EteRNA

Eterna
Developer(s)Stanford University
Carnegie Mellon University
Initial release2010
Available inEnglish
TypeGame with a purpose, Puzzle
Websiteeternagame.org

Eterna is a browser-based "game with a purpose", developed by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University, that engages users to solve puzzles related to the folding of RNA molecules.[1] The project is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford University, and the National Institutes of Health.[2] Prior funders include the National Science Foundation.[3]

Similar to Foldit—created by some of the same researchers that developed Eterna—the puzzles take advantage of human problem-solving capabilities to solve puzzles that are computationally laborious for current computer models. The researchers hope to capitalize on "crowdsourcing"[4] and the collective intelligence[1] of Eterna players to answer fundamental questions about RNA folding mechanics. The top voted designs are synthesized in a Stanford biochemistry lab to evaluate the folding patterns of the RNA molecules to compare directly with the computer predictions, ultimately improving the computer models.[3][5]

Ultimately, Eterna researchers hope to determine a "complete and repeatable set of rules" to allow the synthesis of RNAs that consistently fold in expected shapes.[6] Eterna project leaders hope that determining these basic principles may facilitate the design of RNA-based nanomachines and switches.[7] Eterna creators have been pleasantly surprised by the solutions of Eterna players, particularly those of non-researchers whose "creativity isn't constrained by what they think a correct answer should look like".[8]

As of 2016, Eterna has about 250,000 registered players.[9]

  1. ^ a b "RNA Game Lets Players Help Find a Biological Prize", John Markoff, The New York Times, January 10, 2011
  2. ^ "Eterna - Invent Medicine". eternagame.org. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  3. ^ a b "Rebooting science outreach" Archived 2018-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, Alan Chen, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, June 2011
  4. ^ "RNA research Eterna gets its game on", Erin Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, January 17, 2011
  5. ^ "Play a game and engineer real RNA", John Roach, MSNBC, January 11, 2011
  6. ^ "Treuille On Eterna - A Game Played By Humans, Scored By Nature" Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine:Interview with Adrien Treuille, Byron Spice, Faculty & Staff News, Carnegie Mellon University, January 22, 2011
  7. ^ About Eterna
  8. ^ "Will NIH Embrace Biomedical Research Prizes?" Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine, Michael Price, ScienceInsider, Science 19 July 2011
  9. ^ Taylor, Nick (18 February 2016). "Gamers crush algorithms in RNA structure design challenge". fiercebiotechit.com. Retrieved 23 February 2016.[permanent dead link‍]