this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2026
268 points (98.6% liked)
Science Memes
20944 readers
207 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
How do you solve protein folding when there are so many different ways for proteins to arrange?
A reliable way to simulate any kind of protein fold. As long as you have a method you could hypothetically "solve" the issue
You dont solve anything. You generate models. That's it. Without experimental validation they are just cartoons.
Then why has modelling been so focused on?
Because the models become a database you can search for certain characteristics.
(This is a guess I consider reasonable.)
Its somewhat complex. Protein structures are usually solved with x-ray crystallography. You get a 2-dimensional diffraction pattern. There are different methods to "solve" the diffraction pattern and get the Protein structure. Most are a lot of work, including biochemical lab work. But if you have a model it is relatively easy. The modern computer generated models have revolutionized protein x-ray crystallography.
There actually aren't. However, some of the most interesting proteins have no structure at all.
The interesting part would be to a reliable and computationally accessible way to handle disordered proteins. Seeing how they can move could be quite revolutionary.
I had to work on some disordered proteins and you're pretty much just guessing, plausibly you're better off going to a casino blindfolded and play blackjack.