http://eterna.cmu.edu/web/

Very cool "game" that allows users to create RNA molecules and ultimately propose tests to be conducted in the laboratory that will cost umpteen $billions.

There's a pretty steep learning curve, i.e., understanding different amino acid-base types, their bonding affinity, essential shapes that RNA forms based on types of bonds established and ultimately what is referred to as 'free energy', i.e., potential energy, that any arbitrary sequence of amino acid-base pairs intrinsically possesses to affect the folding of the RNA sequence.

The stupefying science notwithstanding, its a game that avails itself of the stupendous characteristic of the human brain: pattern recognition and intuition. Players get a feel for what works and what won't.

4th graders play this game all talkin' about problems their trying to solve, invoking the rules of the game as if they're doctoral undergrad students - despite not understanding anything about the rules except that the rules exist - and they fully understand performing the spin-move in DOOM, HALO, et ali w/ out having a glimmer of understanding with respect to kinematics of motion in 6 degrees-of-freedom and couldn't integrate the most simple equations with respect to such to save their immortal soul. But any teeny-bopper knows how to do the spin-move on their X-Box / GameBoy / et ali.

And that's what eteRNA attempts to tap: the arcane power of humane intuition.

By the time any arbitrary player has achieved the proverbial "level 33", there are actual real-life laboratories populated by scores of actual undergraduates, doctoral thesis study-students and Ph.D's having minions, that are willing to go to before the powers-that-be, to spend $billions to performs experiments to discern which of the three solutions for some arbitrary RNA molecule puzzle actually work.

Just thought I'd share that (in case nobody's ever heard of this).

WARNING: highly addictive, will consume trillions of otherwise unneeded heartbeats and cause many many many sleepless nights. The OP is to be wholly and totally held free of any claims to indemnity either real or wholly imagined. Void where prohibited. You mileage may vary. Not valid in the state of shock or confusion. Use at your own risk; caveat emptor.

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