Good question. I had been thinking of it differently, where the user inputs a 3D shape and the AI outputs an amino acid sequence that codes a protein of that shape. But perhaps it would be even more useful to have the inputs be functions, as you say. E.g. “Give me a protein that has two ends, one of which binds selectively to the SARS-COV-2 virus, and the other of which signals the immune system to attack.” It wasn’t what I had in mind though.
Yup, that would be another good example. I would guess that sequences designed for functions like these will be developed faster than sequences designed for shape, because the incentives to do so already exist. If you generate a gear or axle, what could you do with it? Are there known applications for such things? Ultimately we could imagine molecular machines made of such a toolkit, but that seems like another level of complexity. (Although perhaps it could tie in with work along the lines of Fraser Stoddart’s group.)
Good question. I had been thinking of it differently, where the user inputs a 3D shape and the AI outputs an amino acid sequence that codes a protein of that shape. But perhaps it would be even more useful to have the inputs be functions, as you say. E.g. “Give me a protein that has two ends, one of which binds selectively to the SARS-COV-2 virus, and the other of which signals the immune system to attack.” It wasn’t what I had in mind though.
Yup, that would be another good example. I would guess that sequences designed for functions like these will be developed faster than sequences designed for shape, because the incentives to do so already exist. If you generate a gear or axle, what could you do with it? Are there known applications for such things? Ultimately we could imagine molecular machines made of such a toolkit, but that seems like another level of complexity. (Although perhaps it could tie in with work along the lines of Fraser Stoddart’s group.)