Computer-Designed Proteins Recognize and Bind Small Molecules 70
vinces99 writes "Computer-designed proteins that can recognize and interact with small biological molecules are now a reality. Scientists have succeeded in creating a protein molecule that can be programmed to unite with three different steroids. The achievement could have far wider ranging applications in medicine and other fields, according to the Protein Design Institute at the University of Washington. 'This is a major step toward building proteins for use as biosensors or molecular sponges, or in synthetic biology — giving organisms new tools to perform a task,' said one of the lead researchers, Christine E. Tinberg, a UW postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry."
"... medicine and other fields ..." (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:This can be the greatest breakthrough (Score:3, Interesting)
It's but a minuscule tool in a field of science we know almost nothing about.
Nothing but knowledge stops us from creating an arbitrary living creature to complete a task. In bio-engineering there's no lack of base materials, everything's done from stuff we use for food. There are also no hard limits, no speed of light that stops astronomers from studying the space; no uncertainty and size limits that stops us from verifying string theory.
I don't see this as a breakthrough. Breakthroughs are for sciences with hard walls to break. Bio-engineering is more like a large field we've never been into.
Let's hope they can apply this technique to something valuable PR-wise (medicine or nutrition seem the most obvious), so they are able to secure funding to keep going.