CALGARY ⁠ — Proteins are biological shapeshifters. The clusters of amino acids that form the basis of human tissue are constantly folding like origami to digest food, attack viruses and perform the many other bodily functions that keep us alive. The variety of shapes they can take is virtually infinite, more intricate and greater in number than the human mind can grasp.

But scientists are increasingly using artificial intelligence to crack their code. Using deep learning, researchers can better understand and predict the structure of proteins. The results: new insight into biological life, drastic reductions in the time it takes to discover remedies for disease and other ailments, and a flood of new venture capital investment.

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