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DeepMind releases database with AI predictions for every human protein shape

That’s about 20,000 3D blueprints that weren’t public before.
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DeepMind

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DeepMind released a free, open-source, big-deal database last week containing AI predictions for the shapes of every protein in the human body. That’s ~20,000 3D blueprints that weren’t public before.

Not only is it the most complete picture of the human proteome (full set of proteins) to date, according to the London-based AI lab—it’s also “doubling humanity’s accumulated knowledge of high-accuracy human protein structures.”

Why this is big

Deepening our understanding of protein structures can lead to major leaps forward in understanding diseases, as well as in drug and vaccine development. That could help allay anything from neglected diseases to the next pandemic.

Recap: In December 2020, AlphaFold, DeepMind’s neural network, made a breakthrough in protein folding—a biological mystery that’s puzzled scientists for 50 years.

  • The breakthrough helped scientists understand Covid-19 early on and is already shedding light on new drugs for disease treatment. This month, DeepMind published the corresponding scientific paper and source code.

+ While we’re here: Besides the human proteome, DeepMind’s new database also contains the proteomes of 20 other organisms used in research, from fruit flies and mice to yeast and E. coli. That totals ~350,000 protein blueprints—and soon, DeepMind says, it plans to expand to more than a million structures, “covering almost every sequenced protein known to science.”—HF

Keep up with the innovative tech transforming business

Tech Brew keeps business leaders up-to-date on the latest innovations, automation advances, policy shifts, and more, so they can make informed decisions about tech.

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