In a groundbreaking intersection of biology and artificial intelligence (AI), AlphaFold is revolutionizing our understanding of the fundamental elements of life.
Developed by DeepMind, a subsidiary of Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), this AI system has the ability to accurately predict the complex 3D structures of proteins, a task that has long eluded scientists. This achievement led its creators, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on October 9, 2024.
Here, the Investing News Network delves deep into AlphaFold, exploring what it is, how it works, the history of DeepMind, and the exciting investment opportunities arising from this cutting-edge technology.
What is AlphaFold?
AlphaFold is an AI program that predicts protein structures by analyzing vast databases of known protein shapes and their corresponding amino acid sequences. Developed and trained on Google’s supercomputers, AlphaFold 2, the second iteration of the program, offers open-source code and a public database of protein structure predictions for researchers to access and run their own experiments.
In May 2024, DeepMind released AlphaFold 3 with limited access, providing some capabilities through the AlphaFold Server. The full accessibility of the model is anticipated in the future.
What is DeepMind?
DeepMind, inspired by neuroscience, is a startup focused on developing general-purpose AI. Utilizing reinforcement learning, a form of machine learning, DeepMind aimed to “solve intelligence, and then solve everything else.” Founded in London in 2010, the company made significant progress in AI research, attracting Google’s attention, which acquired it in 2014. Subsequently, DeepMind merged with Google Brain in 2023.
With a strong foundation in computational biology, DeepMind has made groundbreaking advancements, including the development of AlphaFold for solving the protein folding problem.
How does AlphaFold work?
AlphaFold uses machine learning to predict protein 3D structures based on their amino acid sequences, crucial for understanding their functions and interactions. By providing accurate predictions, AlphaFold contributes to disease biomarker identification and drug design.
Before AlphaFold, identifying protein structures was challenging and time-consuming. With its vast database and neural network trained on protein folding rules, AlphaFold can make precise 3D structure predictions, revolutionizing protein research.
AlphaFold’s achievements
AlphaFold’s remarkable accuracy was demonstrated in competitions like CASP, where it outperformed other methods in predicting protein structures. The latest model, AlphaFold 2, achieved unmatched precision, winning accolades from the scientific community for its groundbreaking technology.
DeepMind’s continuous advancements with AlphaFold have led to collaborations with pharmaceutical giants like Novartis and Eli Lilly, with the potential to revolutionize drug discovery processes and generate significant revenue.
How to invest in AlphaFold and DeepMind stock
Investing in Alphabet provides indirect exposure to DeepMind and AlphaFold through its ownership. Additionally, investing in pharmaceutical companies leveraging AlphaFold technology for drug discovery can offer compelling investment opportunities.
Isomorphic Labs, founded by Demis Hassabis to accelerate drug discovery using AI, has secured significant partnerships with Novartis and Eli Lilly, showcasing the immense potential of AlphaFold in revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry.
What’s next for AlphaFold?
With the release of AlphaFold 3 in May 2024, DeepMind has expanded the technology’s capabilities, enabling the prediction of protein complex structures and interactions with other biomolecules. These enhancements further solidify AlphaFold’s role in disease research and treatment development.
AlphaFold’s unparalleled accuracy and accessibility have already made significant impacts on drug discovery and disease understanding. The future holds immense promise for this groundbreaking technology.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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