Plain English with Derek Thompson
How AI Could Help Us Discover Miracle Drugs
Sep 13, 2024
Pushmeet Kohli, head of AI for science at DeepMind, discusses the revolutionary impact of AlphaFold in drug discovery. He explains how this groundbreaking AI predicts protein structures, unlocking complexities vital for understanding diseases. Kohli highlights the protein paradox, detailing why these molecules are crucial yet challenging in medicine. He also explores the interplay between biology and AI, emphasizing the potential of these technologies to accelerate breakthroughs in healthcare and address pressing medical mysteries.
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Quick takeaways
- AlphaFold revolutionizes medicine by accurately predicting protein structures, significantly accelerating drug discovery and development processes.
- The shift towards understanding proteins and their interactions emphasizes the importance of advanced technologies in modern biomedical research.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Medicine: From Nature to Engineering
The history of medicine can be divided into three distinct phases, beginning with the discovery of natural miracle drugs derived from plants and animals, which dominated the field until the early 20th century. Aspirin, for example, originated from white willow bark, while penicillin was produced from mold. The second phase transitioned into biotechnology, during which scientists synthesized medical products by analyzing the proteins and molecules naturally found within the human body. This phase marked the birth of engineered treatments, exemplified by drugs like Humira for autoimmune diseases, highlighting a shift from nature-based treatments to more refined, human-centric medical solutions.
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