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View Full Version : Idle computer time anyone? Genom@home Project



Master Yoghurt
Apr 3rd, 2002, 04:53:55 AM
Here is a good way contributing to medical science and turn idle computer time to something useful and fun. :)

In cooperation with Stanford University, the combines the computing power of users all over the globe to help analyse the data of <a href=http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/HGP/>Human Genome Project (http://gah.stanford.edu/>Genome@home). HGP aims to map the human DNA, enabling medical science in the future to find new treatments for Cancer, Alzheimers etc. Genome@home enables scientist to exploit the computing power of thousands of users to turn the results into practical data. For the interested, read more about it here: <a href=http://gah.stanford.edu/using.html#goals>Project Goals.</a>

Ok, enough of that, now comes the fun bit. Me and a few others at CC.netters joined up with a team named Team Phoenix Rising (http://www.its.caltech.edu/~milesc/index.htm>GENEtals</a>,).

GENEtals moved in a record pace from 1000 place to 50 in just over two months without ever being passed. At time of writing, we are at #30 and still climbing fast, however Team Phoenix is dangerously close:

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30. GENEtals 141226.93
31. Phoenix_Rising 140170.91
Differential: 1056
<a href=http://gah.stanford.edu/teamstats.html>Team Stats List</a>
-----------

At this rate, TPR is going to catch up sooner rather than later unless there is a boost. They declared a member stats list (http://forums.teamphoenixrising.net/showthread.php?threadid=3964>war</a>,) (ancient PII 233Mhz). I am sure there are some who could match my not so impressive computer.. ;)

Everyone having some idle computer time is urged to help out running genome. Here is how to get building those genes.. :cool
How to join GENEtals: <a href=http://www.its.caltech.edu/~milesc/join.htm>Instructions</a>
Team Number: 632954850
Team Homepage: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~milesc/index.htm
Genome@Home Homepage: http://gah.stanford.edu/

Shawn
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:08:21 AM
Heh... like Seti@Home, but more practical. I like it.

And trust me - few people have more idle computer time than I. I leave this thing on for weeks at a time, sometimes not using it for days.

Master Yoghurt
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:13:22 AM
Yeah, I used to run SETI@home myself. It is very similar, except Genome client tends to spend less system resources than SETI, so you can leave it running at all times if you wish. :)

Shawn
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:16:42 AM
The text seems to appear on screen very slowly. :| And it's a bit clunky. But hey - knowing what protein I'm working on is kind of nifty.

Master Yoghurt
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:22:44 AM
Shawn: Yeah, you can even look at the proteine you created. If you go to my page, and click on one of the genes I designed, you will see what I mean:

http://gah.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/userpage.pl?q=Yog

Edit: Of course, at the moment of writing that particular page decides to go down. :rolleyes Anyway, I can assure it looks cool.

Shawn
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:26:03 AM
Well, I think I set it up right. I know it's doing something.

Master Yoghurt
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:34:44 AM
It should say something like:

Initializing proteine design algorithm
Designing protein sequence 1 of 30
10% 20% 30% and so on as it progresses

It will take some time for each percentage to progress though. That is normal. :)

Shawn
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:54:47 AM
Actually, it's already finished three sequences. :p

Master Yoghurt
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:59:28 AM
I see :lol

I need to upgrade :rolleyes

Sumor Rayial
Apr 3rd, 2002, 11:04:35 AM
Hey I'm all for it. With a parent in the medical field I like to help out as much as I can.

Though still can't believe I ended up with the nick Double_Helix I figured that would have been one of the first taken.

Morgan Evanar
Apr 3rd, 2002, 11:22:22 AM
Hmm... time to install on every PC but mine...

Darth Viscera
Apr 3rd, 2002, 01:47:57 PM
At last! You know, at my old job I used to work on stuff pertaining to the human genome? Heck, I had to download 4 GB genbanks, then process them with an application whose name I forget. That was 2 years ago, and the genbank is now 66 gigs. I still have my Department of Defense ID card, too. 4 years ago, at 15, I was the youngest bioinformatics technician in the country!

imported_QuiGonJ
Apr 3rd, 2002, 02:17:18 PM
Very cool, DV. :)

Darth Viscera
Apr 3rd, 2002, 02:19:35 PM
Aha! Someone payed attention to me!

*does the single-child attention dance*

imported_QuiGonJ
Apr 3rd, 2002, 03:23:21 PM
Hehehe.. guess I need to sign up for the project itself sometime. :)

Master Yoghurt
Apr 3rd, 2002, 04:29:25 PM
Everyone; thanks for helping out!

DV; bioinformatic technician at 15? That is awesome! :cool I bet you know a thing or two about the Genome project allready then. It is great when everyone can contribute to science like this.

Shawn
Apr 3rd, 2002, 05:00:36 PM
I absolutely loved Biology in HS. In fact, I skipped over Chemistry and took AP Bio my Junior year. I find this stuff so fascinating. :)

Morgan Evanar
Apr 3rd, 2002, 10:10:46 PM
In retrospect, I should have followed suit. Mrs. Urban was, well... an airhead.