We do seem to be concentrating on biotechnology right now. Perhaps because these are the researchers readiest to grab at a large number of computers. The current HPF project is likely to lead to the identification of functional networks of proteins, all working together to achieve a goal. If that goal is one we want to interfere with for medical reasons, then a next step might be a project to test candidate proteins to see if they will bind with one of those proteins, interfering with the process. Here is a link to a recent story of a research project trying to do this in silico, in the computer: http://www.interactions.org/sgtw/2005/0831/egee_malaria_more.html

Conceivably somebody will approach us with a project like this aimed against cancer. In fact, I would expect something like that to be proposed within a couple of years. It is a rapidly growing field. Our first project is the first part of basic research into cell biology processes. The really interesting part of the research comes after we have produced the molecular structures of the proteins, however. We have nothing to do with that.


More than a matter of 'form'. The rules limit each team to one current recruiting thread. But the discussion of just what this means in detailed implementation allowed a team to produce a bragging notice of special achievement which should soon sink out of sight. The MOT team captain, David Autumns, did that for the 200 CPU years milestone. So far, you are the only one to bump it, so it should soon sink and vanish. The TEAM forum is very active.
The Banners and Flags thread is a utility thread that all the teams can use, though Graham puts some of his best MOT banners in it. Until he added to it this month, the last post was ?27 July? and new members probably did not know of it. As a sort of general utility thread for all the team sigs, it does not really count against the Team limits, as long as it is not misused in an attempt to 'game' the system. EvoDude has the right idea. Everybody with good graphics is encouraged to contribute to help all the teams. If it ever becomes controversial, we can move the thread to CHAT or MEMBER-TO-MEMBER