Our bodies get sick when the cells in them get disease. Rosetta tries to discover what happens in our body when we get diseases like Alzheimers, Diabetes, AIDS, Cancer, and so on.....

Rosetta looks really close at what is happening in our cells so that they can stop these diseases from happening to us. In the future they want to find out what causes these sorts of diseases and stop them. They need your help with your computer! If enough computers help then these things that cause these diseases will be identified sooner. And sooner the better!

---

Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

Do you think this is better and passes the 'Mum' test ?

---

Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

It's more of a hands-on then a description, but see also my straw explaination attempt. It works great if you're sitting in a restaurant and have no PC screensaver handy to show to someone.

I should have offered more back to you on my comments Robert... basically, in my thinking the following words (or phrases) should be avoided in the description, they are too "technical" for "mum":

Protein
Amino acid
degrees of freedom
atoms
energy level
hydrophobic
hydrophilic
physics
Supercomputer
Distributed computing
work unit
algorythm
researcher
scientist

And it often helps to use pictures. Something simple like this. :):)

[edit] Sorry Robert, our posts crossed in time. The new draft is better, but now I fear it isn't credible to adults. It's a very fine line [/edit]

---

Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

LOL...ok..

So you think the 2nd version is 'not credible to adults' ?

You are a tough taskmaster. I thought the last version was pretty well suited for 'the mum'.

If you can tell me how not so I will better it.

---

Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

You are a tough taskmaster.

Don't mean to be tough. I've been working on a description for, well, about 3 weeks now I think. So, I can certainly understand the challenge. If you could whip out something that struck me, in less than a day, well... I'd have ta say "you're hired!"

I've had people point out that the medical field doesn't use the word "cure". If part of my body is now GONE (surgically), it's hard to really say you "cured" my cancer. And that "viruses" and "infectious diseases" are not really related to cancer and Alzheimer's, and that... well, this whole thought is off topic. laurelin was seeking input on her video project. And the audience for some of her work is beyond the "mum" level. Let's work on simplified descriptions over here.

---

Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

I am working with 'it' here...where it was requested...

I don't see how I can dumb it down any further than what I have already done. I believe the purpose and extension of the project is now comprehensible to any novice layman and am a little bit surprised that you don't see it this way also. Perhaps we should wait and see what others think of what I said? But like you say, this whole measure is perhaps better handled in another thread.

I have just noticed that at least 3 people have requested a salesman/marketer that could help.

I think I'm a pretty good one and for example I'm the one that came up with the 'tell a friend' idea of Rosetta, remember?

Well, when you ask for a man to step forward and he steps forward, it's usually not a good idea to shoot him down when he's putting out good work. (we're all still volunteers here)

---

Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

Well, when you ask for a man to step forward and he steps forward, it's usually not a good idea to shoot him down when he's putting out good work. (we're all still volunteers here)

I had many of the same thoughts regarding my bumber sticker idea today, and on my high school idea, (why argue about how many high school kids there are?), and on my idea to create a CD ("too complicated" is exactly what the CD will remove the project, and since you aren't tasked with producing the CD, how complicated that feat is, is not relevant).

For the record, the original post of the tell-a-friend idea, from what I've ever found is from dragokatzov.

Please note, I'm not using any !s here. I'm simply trying to help you see some of your comments from the other side. They often aren't helping move things forward. A friend of mine once told me that if you have a complaint (or advice), that's fine, but "be FOR something". In other words, challenge yourself to devise and propose a resolution to the complaint, before you raise it.

If you feel an idea is off in some way, try to be positive and offer something that will steer it more in a direction that you feel is better. I was simply attempting to do that. The way you did for me here. Look at the result there, forward motion, improvement. A better outcome than where it started.

I call the whole thing off topic only because it is not the input requested by the original poster. She's not targetting "mum". This discussion is not constructive on her video project... if it leads to something you feel is constructive for that work, then I would suggest you add the result here... not the whole discussion.

---

Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

Ok then. I guess you're right. I am and was just trying to help. I think I had a few too many beers when I posted that....

Please accept my apologies. I know you are doing tons and tons of hard dedicated volunteer work here. You do what many (including myself) don't have the skills or time for and hope you keep it up!

Again, please accept my apologies for being rude , etc.

---

Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

laurelin, we got way off topic there on you. It looks like all you have left is the narration for that first "intro. to folding" video? I can't wait to have the complete picture of what you are illustraiting there.

Any update on the other video projects?

---

Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

I just watched your RegeneRobot Science Fair video... this is great. I ran a series of Google ads promoting Rosetta last month... "Science Fair" was the topic area where I saw the most interest in Rosetta. Kids are curious.

Have you considered making a "RosettaRobot Science Fair" video? This would explain all the various functions that proteins have, both in normal body functions, and in disease and virus cells. As well as how the few existing treatments work at the cellular level, and why science doesn't presently have the answers needed to design the proteins to treat most diseases yet. It would THEN explain the computational approach to discovering protein configurations, and maybe you then incorporate the other videos you are working on: showing the transciption, interviewing the team, and showing how to install Rosetta.

---

Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

laurelin, we got way off topic there on you. It looks like all you have left is the narration for that first "intro. to folding" video? I can't wait to have the complete picture of what you are illustraiting there.

Any update on the other video projects?

Laura has been filming us for the rosetta@home video--and some of us are learning how bad we are on camera, myself included!

---

Laura has been filming us for the rosetta@home video--and some of us are learning how bad we are on camera, myself included!

It's not EASY to look comfortable on camera, with cameraman, bright lights, enunciate clearly, follow the script, etc. etc. etc.

I once had to do about a 15 second spot on a company promo. video... you have my sympathy :)

---

Add this signature to your EMail:
Running Microsoft's "System Idle Process" will never help cure cancer, AIDS nor Alzheimer's. But running Rosetta@home just might!
https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/

laurelin, we got way off topic there on you. It looks like all you have left is the narration for that first "intro. to folding" video? I can't wait to have the complete picture of what you are illustraiting there.

Any update on the other video projects?

Laura has been filming us for the rosetta@home video--and some of us are learning how bad we are on camera, myself included!

Remember the first time you ever heard your own voice on a tape recorder? Most people think to themselves, 'Do I REALLY sound like that!?'. People are overly critical when viewing themselves from a 3rd person point of view.

I'm betting it will all turn out alot better than you think it will, at least from the point of view of those people viewing it. Looking forward to seeing it.

---

Founder of BOINC GROUP - Objectivists - Philosophically minded rational data crunchers.

Have you considered making a "RosettaRobot Science Fair" video? This would explain all the various functions that proteins have, both in normal body functions, and in disease and virus cells. As well as how the few existing treatments work at the cellular level, and why science doesn't presently have the answers needed to design the proteins to treat most diseases yet. It would THEN explain the computational approach to discovering protein configurations, and maybe you then incorporate the other videos you are working on: showing the transciption, interviewing the team, and showing how to install Rosetta.

Hi! Sorry, haven't looked at this board in a while, busy working on animations and video editing...

The Laboratory Robot Science Fair is something that I worked on for my primary "job" as independant contractor for an NIH SEPA educational outreach project. All the characters and stuff belong to the NIH and this non-profit in Pittsburgh. So, can't use them! Pretty much 1/2 of my ideas over the last 4-5 yrs don't belong to me :)

Don't worry though, the Rosetta video is looking excellent. David Baker et al don't look as bad as they think they do, and we'll do as many retakes as we need so everyone is happy.

---

Also, I am kind of researching how other people have approached short documentary-style promo videos. It's tricky because it's a cross between a documentary, a commercial, and a movie trailer. If anyone has seen anything like this on the web can you post a link here? I just want some general reference material.

---

i.e. something like the introduction to Jurasic Park's technology on their ride? (Only for a real company with real products/science)?

---

i.e. something like the introduction to Jurasic Park's technology on their ride? (Only for a real company with real products/science)?

Don't really remember what it's like but, sure!

---

These are the fundamental structures that we must understand in order to eventually conquest them.

I'm hoping for a definitive statement about how the treatments work against disease. Something I could bring back to my friend as incontestable evidence that once this (the disease's protein native state) is known, then that (a cure) can be done. His "that's what 'they' say" retort makes me feel he believes that statement about as much as he trusts his government to represent his best interests. So, if it is possible to relate the process back to how the small pox vaccine works, or how penicyline (sp?) works or something that's well known and understood by people, that would be helpful. Then you could just say "ya, it's the same way that's been working for 150 years".

IANAE, so hopefully one of the Baker Lab experts will correct any errors in this brief treatise on the subject.

In regard to the HIV thing, it will ultimately work on the same principle as smallpox / cowpox. Jenner deduced that exposure to non-fatal cowpox gave the immune system the ability to make antibodies that would combat the fatal smallpox.

The problem with HIV is that the immune system gets fooled by the "variable camoflage" on the HIV virus and so any antibodies it produces are useless by the time they're ready: the virus has already mutated.

By making the protein proposed by David Baker, we give the immune system a target with the following two properties:

1. Antibodies produced against it will also be effective against HIV
2. The antibodies produced will target the non-mutable parts of HIV, so that even when it mutates, the antibodies will still work.

Yes. This talk of camoflage and mutation does make HIV sound like a nasty customer. It is. It's bad in the US and other civilized areas, but it is devastating in third world regions. That's why a cure for it needs to be a high priority item.

---

These are the fundamental structures that we must understand in order to eventually conquest them.

I'm hoping for a definitive statement about how the treatments work against disease. Something I could bring back to my friend as incontestable evidence that once this (the disease's protein native state) is known, then that (a cure) can be done. His "that's what 'they' say" retort makes me feel he believes that statement about as much as he trusts his government to represent his best interests. So, if it is possible to relate the process back to how the small pox vaccine works, or how penicyline (sp?) works or something that's well known and understood by people, that would be helpful. Then you could just say "ya, it's the same way that's been working for 150 years".

IANAE, so hopefully one of the Baker Lab experts will correct any errors in this brief treatise on the subject.

In regard to the HIV thing, it will ultimately work on the same principle as smallpox / cowpox. Jenner deduced that exposure to non-fatal cowpox gave the immune system the ability to make antibodies that would combat the fatal smallpox.

The problem with HIV is that the immune system gets fooled by the "variable camoflage" on the HIV virus and so any antibodies it produces are useless by the time they're ready: the virus has already mutated.

By making the protein proposed by David Baker, we give the immune system a target with the following two properties:

1. Antibodies produced against it will also be effective against HIV
2. The antibodies produced will target the non-mutable parts of HIV, so that even when it mutates, the antibodies will still work.

Yes. This talk of camoflage and mutation does make HIV sound like a nasty customer. It is. It's bad in the US and other civilized areas, but it is devastating in third world regions. That's why a cure for it needs to be a high priority item.

dgnuff you explained it perfectly!

---

So here is the first rough edit-- just the video footage

VIDEO

This edit only contains 1/3-1/2 of the info that the final will hopefully convey. Pretty much between every person speaking will be an explanatory animated segment of some sort. Here is my rough outline of video footage + animated segments

-UW footage, labs (with narration)

-David Baker welcome

-Amino acids, genetic code to protein: transcription, translation,
peptide bond formation animation (with narration)

-Divya-rope analogy

-Protein folding animation segues from Divya's analogy (with narration)

-David Kim- BOINC, distributed computing

-David Baker- elevation analogy

-Short animated segue of planetary terrain superimposed on top of the
end of David's analogy, transitions into BOINC screensaver

-Screensaver depiction and explanation (with narration)

-Bin- megascale to nanoscale and back again to help all of humanity
(with animated globe, perhaps)

-David Baker- mutations in proteins cause disease

-Bill Schief- HIV research

-Short HIV animation

-Lab footage, narration about medicine/cures etc

-Rhiju- The Future

-UW footage, lab, maybe a pic of the whole team, conclusion


This list was made for my own purposes and is not meant to actually communicate too much to anyone that is not me, so just look at it as a view into my work process. It is basically a combo of the animation I linked to at the beginning of this thread and the video footage at the top of this post.

Anyway, we were wondering what you all think about the footage. We are probably going to re-shoot some segments.

---