This is not the famous Swiss watch. And not a Mitsubishi car, either. This is an online RNA-design game, developed by Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University. The players are to design RNA (ribonucleic acid), a molecule essential in many cellular functions, such as gene expressions. What the players have designed will be used to study RNA foldings (the shape of the RNA affects its function and efficiency).
This is the simplest puzzle - a hairpin:
The colored beads represent the 4 types of ribonucleic acid. The white links between them in the middle are the bonds that form when 2 complimentary ribonucleic acid are being paired together. The stronger the bond, the more whiter the color. You are given a puzzle and you have to pair up the ribonucleic acids correctly so that the RNA molecule will fold into the required shape. When you solve a puzzle, you'll be given virtual "gold" and your world ranking will also increase.
If you love science and wanna help in RNA research, click the link below, register and start solving RNA puzzles!
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