Dmitry Korkin: Evolution of Proteins, Viruses, Life, and AI | Lex Fridman Podcast #153

Dmitry Korkin is a professor of bioinformatics and computational biology at WPI. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

EPISODE LINKS:

PODCAST INFO:

OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
1:57 - Proteins and the building blocks of life
9:00 - Spike protein
15:48 - Coronavirus biological structure explained
20:45 - Virus mutations
27:16 - Evolution of proteins
37:02 - Self-replicating computer programs
44:38 - Origin of life
52:11 - Extraterrestrial life in our solar system
54:08 - Joshua Lederberg
1:00:07 - Dendral
1:03:01 - Why did expert systems fail?
1:05:12 - AlphaFold 2
1:26:50 - Will AI revolutionize art and music?
1:33:49 - Multi-protein folding
1:38:16 - Will AlphaFold 2 result in a Nobel Prize?
1:40:47 - Will AI be used to engineer deadly viruses?
1:55:54 - Book recommendations
2:05:37 - Family
2:08:15 - A poem in Russian

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[lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast.
0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions:
1:57 - Proteins and the building blocks of life
9:00 - Spike protein
15:48 - Coronavirus biological structure explained
20:45 - Virus mutations
27:16 - Evolution of proteins
37:02 - Self-replicating computer programs
44:38 - Origin of life
52:11 - Extraterrestrial life in our solar system
54:08 - Joshua Lederberg
1:00:07 - Dendral
1:03:01 - Why did expert systems fail?
1:05:12 - AlphaFold 2
1:26:50 - Will AI revolutionize art and music?
1:33:49 - Multi-protein folding
1:38:16 - Will AlphaFold 2 result in a Nobel Prize?
1:40:47 - Will AI be used to engineer deadly viruses?
1:55:54 - Book recommendations
2:05:37 - Family
2:08:15 - A poem in Russian

[miaodu]

Lexei, I think it would be great if we could have a ‘book club’ episode, say, once a month.

[fightwatcherspro]

The content you have been putting out lately has been amazing!

[NerdOutWithMe]

Lex, I hope you understand the good you do for the world. You've opened the door to a part of society that rarely get heard outside of specific circles, and that means a lot to us. Life changing for some. So thank you.

[nikital]

The weird feeling to be a Russian listening to two Russians speaking English to each other. :)

[HaddockHazard]

Lex "Linger on that" Fridman back at it again.

[inisus]

Just like Joe always defaults to DMT, Lex defaults to talking about alien life :-D

[biljanao]

Amazing book by Bulgakov, among my favorites, and masterfully written, too. Characters rock!

[deadlyviper]

Lex love your podcasts! They make me feel smarter than I really am. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[TheAIEpiphany]

Loving this one. We want more computational biologists in the podcast <3 Manolis Kellis again haha. Demis Hassabis as well - it's about time. You had Marcus and David Silver...

Btw. 01:09:05 it doesn't happen quickly i.e. it depends on the type of the protein - some take minutes or more to acquire the final configuration (but yes most of the proteins fold really quickly).

[kylehendrix]

Hey Lex! Great episode! Would love for you to speak to Pavel Tsatsouline! What is his meaning of life and how could AI play a role in strength training in the future? Thanks!

[mervzacher]

Like the comments and replys to your podcast Lex. Great job on the technical conversational interview. My grandfather spoke Russian, I never had that opportunity.

[e-geyikhane]

Nice video! What about FBC fund and their algorithm review?

[saive]

1:51:18
"Transparency is more beneficial than secrecy."

And encryption is not antagonistic to transparency. Au contraire, it ensures fidelity of information.

[gfknnnb]

Awesome! George just did a live stream looking into bio stuffs. Look forward to you talking to him again in the future too!

[brunoribaric]

56:35 Lex's "What's a forum" joke flew right over his head lol

[thAttempt]

It breaks my heart when sponsors won't deliver to the UK - great interview though. Lex you are the best!

[nappykins-AND-lotion]

I'm only 30 mins in, but I am tempted to say this talk requires a primer in structural biology to begin to understand.

[flain]

I'm interested to hear about what alphafold could potentially do for various forms of cancer. Seems like something worth some serious airtime

[luk]

@Lex Fridman, when will you upload your content to @t?