Rethinking Productivity: The Limits of Predicting Biomolecular Structures
Introduction: The Promise of Biomolecular Prediction Scientists have long sought to understand how chains of amino acids fold into complex shapes. These shapes are vital because they determine how life functions. Recently, new computer methods, like deep learning, have made it possible to predict these shapes faster and more easily. This seems like a big step forward in science and productivity. What Is Productivity in Science? Productivity usually means doing more work in less time. In science, this often means producing results quickly and efficiently. But is speed always the best goal? Sometimes, focusing only on productivity can miss important parts of discovery and understanding. Deep Learning and Biomolecular Structure Prediction Deep learning is a type of computer program that learns patterns from data. It helps predict how proteins fold by analyzing many examples. This method reduces the time needed to get predictions compared to older techniques. However, it may als...