Introducing Students to AI Tools Used in Biochemistry
Abstract
Artificial intelligence tools have revolutionized molecular biochemistry in recent years. In recognition of these advances, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for developments relating to protein structure prediction and design. This talk will describe activities and projects I have used to introduce students to some of these tools. In one classroom activity, students designed a helical bundle protein sequence and used the tool AlphaFold3 to predict whether their sequence would fold as they expected. Students also assessed the model's confidence in its predicted structure and named some potential ethical consequences of using AI for protein design. In another project, students are using the open source tool RFDiffusion to design binding partners for a target protein.
College
College of Science & Engineering
Department
Chemistry
Location
Kryzsko, Solarium, Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota; United States
Start Date
4-23-2026 9:00 AM
End Date
4-23-2026 12:00 PM
Presentation Type
Event
Introducing Students to AI Tools Used in Biochemistry
Kryzsko, Solarium, Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota; United States
Artificial intelligence tools have revolutionized molecular biochemistry in recent years. In recognition of these advances, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for developments relating to protein structure prediction and design. This talk will describe activities and projects I have used to introduce students to some of these tools. In one classroom activity, students designed a helical bundle protein sequence and used the tool AlphaFold3 to predict whether their sequence would fold as they expected. Students also assessed the model's confidence in its predicted structure and named some potential ethical consequences of using AI for protein design. In another project, students are using the open source tool RFDiffusion to design binding partners for a target protein.
