One of two dozen researchers assigned to sort out protein functions was an immunologist named David Hilbert.

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However, he said there was a risk of side effects because the protein also plays important functions in healthy cells.

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And we have absolutely no way to calculate in principle all the possible interactions and functions of a single protein with the tens of thousands of other proteins in the cell!

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In order to operate, our cells constantly switch protein production on and off through specific gene functions.

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It would bring biologists a step closer to being able to predict the final folded structure of proteins, which would help in working out their functions and thus make it easier to design drugs that are aimed at a particular protein.

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Instead of looking at a single gene or protein in isolation, researchers may one day study all of them at once to understand how the body functions and how things go wrong, charting for the first time the intricate biochemical chain reactions that lead to heart disease, diabetes or schizophrenia--and gaining astonishing insights into cures.

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