David Baker won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on protein design. He now uses artificial intelligence to create molecules that do not exist in nature. Baker shared his views in an interview with WIRED en Español.
Proteins are the building blocks of life. They control nearly every function inside living cells. For decades, scientists could only study proteins found in nature.
Baker developed methods to design entirely new proteins from scratch. His lab uses computational tools to build these molecules. This approach opened a new field called de novo protein design.
Artificial intelligence now speeds up this process dramatically. AI models predict protein structures and suggest new designs. Baker’s team uses these tools to create molecules with specific functions.
These synthetic proteins could treat diseases and clean up pollution. They might also improve vaccines and deliver drugs more precisely. The potential applications span medicine, energy, and materials science.
Creating molecules beyond nature raises important questions. Baker acknowledges both the promise and the risks. He stresses the need for careful oversight as the technology advances.
Baker believes the field is moving toward designing complex biological systems. Researchers may soon build proteins that mimic natural ones or surpass them. The line between natural and artificial biology continues to blur.
