S3E4: An Exploration of Protein Folding with Professor David Baker

Theory and Practice

Using machine learning to predict how a protein folds helps solve a riddle in biology. But it is just the start.

These algorithms open up new opportunities to explore the physiological processes that have eluded research, adapt and create proteins for therapeutic purposes, and even power nano-molecular machines.

This week we speak with Professor David Baker about the enormous scope for making new proteins and how that translates into practical uses to tackle diseases, such as Covid-19.

We also discuss the “technological molecular design revolution” and how nanomachines could work like tiny vacuum cleaners to clear arteries from atherosclerosis or our brains from Alzheimer’s amyloid plaques.

David Baker also explains why none of this is possible without a sense of community in the lab.

Theory and Practice is a presentation of GV and Google AI.

This season we'll dive deep into the languages of life through explorations of the "dark genome", genome editing, protein folding, the future of aging, and more.

Hosted by Anthony Philippakis (Venture Partner at GV) and Alex Wiltschko (Staff Research Scientist with Google AI), Theory and Practice opens the doors to the cutting edge of biology and computer science through conversations with leaders in the field.