If Biologist were to use Physics

Discussion in 'Physics & Math' started by AndresKiani, Jan 12, 2014.

  1. AndresKiani Registered Member

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    I believe that one day soon, Biologist will be able to write extensive algorithms mathematically on how proteins fold, when it will fold, and the shape it will fold into.

    We already working on such algorithms, though most of it is done by Biophysicists.

    Me, being an inspiring Neuroscientist, I want to be able to use the physical tools that Physicists and Mathematicians have to answer Neural problems.
     
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  3. ElectricFetus Sanity going, going, gone Valued Senior Member

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    They already do, but this requires understand the essential limitation in models for predicting molecular structures and energy states: the equations (Schrödinger equation) are reiterative and get exponentially more complex with each atom, requiring a sickening amount of computing power, it likely won't be until quantum computers before we can simply design proteins completely in silico with ease.
     
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  5. wellwisher Banned Banned

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    If biologists were to use physics, energy and entropy balances would be more important to biology, and one would realize that protein shapes and activities cannot exist apart from the impact of water. It is like looking at a bead of oil in water and then trying to define the formation of this bead apart from water. One would also notice that many layers of water molecules are important to this shape and activity since the energy and entropy balance will not add up unless we include this.
     
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  7. ElectricFetus Sanity going, going, gone Valued Senior Member

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    We already know that!
     
  8. Write4U Valued Senior Member

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    Then you may be interested in this new approach,

    http://fold.it/portal/info/science
     

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