Stanford University Computer Program Works to Cure Diseases

Like most Americans, I own a computer. I use it to surf the Web, play games and type homework. When I'm not doing one of those things, it sits on my desk doing nothing but showing a screen saver of a colorful line bouncing back and forth on the screen.

What would you think if I told you that while your computer sits on your desk, it could do more than play a fun, colorful line? What if I told you that while your computer sits there, it could cure cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease? It might sound crazy and like something out of a science fiction movie, but it's true. A program released by Stanford University is working on a cure for many different diseases and disorders.

The Science.

The Folding@Home Web site explains proteins as "biology's workhorses - - its 'nanomachines'." To simplify, proteins are what make things happen in the body. Imagine an 'unused' protein as a line, when the protein needs to be 'used', it changes into a complex, three-dimensional figure. This process is called 'folding'. When these proteins fold in the incorrect way or into the wrong shape, problems are created. These problems include many types of cancers, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, among many others. Not much is known about protein folding.

How it Works.

The basic premise of this program is to form a super-computer. As the user, you would download a program onto your computer which would allow you to link with other users to create this super-computer. This program would process protein folding data for Stanford University. More computers participating leads to more data being processed which in turn, helps researchers learn about these diseases.

The Folding@Home program runs as a background process on your computer, using your computer's resources only when you aren't using them. It simulates protein folding and then transmits the data to the Stanford research team.

Where to Get It.

This program can be downloaded at Folding@Home, the homepage for Stanford University's program.

More Information.

This program is receiving more attention every day. Many groups, organizations, and businesses have done their part to help this cause, including: Google, Intel, Dell, Apple, and the National Science Foundation.

Folding@Home also uses a team-based system, where you can get a group of people together to fold proteins in an attempt to 'beat' a rival group. The more proteins you can fold, the more 'points' you can accumulate.

Why.

As your computer sits on your desk, it is doing nothing, why not give it something to do. Folding@Home does just that while helping understand causes of disease. A simple and easy way to help, with little effort needed to start. You might ask why? I ask why not?