Posted 4/15/2024, 3:53:33 PM
Gamers Advance Microbiology by Playing Video Game, Contributing as Much as Scientists
- 4.5 million gamers helped reconstruct evolutionary histories of gut microbes by playing Borderlands 3 video game
- Gamers collected 5 times more microbial DNA sequence data than previous game Phylo over 10 years
- Game improved on existing algorithms and will help develop better AI programs
- Data traces relationships of microbes involved in inflammatory bowel disease, Alzheimer's etc.
- Shows public can collectively advance science; citizens contributed as much as scientists