Ribo is a tile matching game in which each puzzle solved helps deciphering the structure and function of RNA molecules, a key component of life.
What are RNAs?
RNA is one of the three key molecules essential to life (with DNA and proteins). Like DNA, they are encoded using 4-letter code (A, C, G, U). RNAs are used to store genetic information and perform various functions in cells. They can also be viruses such as Measles, Influenza or Ebola.
The problem:
Ribo compares RNA sequences from various organisms but with similar functions. This allows us to reveal key features of these molecules and better understand them. This problem is known as the multiple sequences alignment problem. Computer algorithms calculate good alignments but their solutions need to be improved.
Our approach:
Humans are particularly good at visual pattern recognition. Ribo transforms RNA sequences in chains of colored bricks of multiple shapes in order to take advantage of this skill. When playing Ribo, your goal is to move the bricks to reveal shape and color patterns in the puzzles.