3D Modeling in Biology
Computer Graphics
Computational Modeling
Biology
A 3D model is a 3-dimensional representation of biological structures and processes. This technology brings together computer graphics and computational modeling to facilitate biological research that requires a realistic and immersive understanding of biology. For example, a protein searching for a target on a DNA molecule can not be realistically modeled in one or two dimensions.
Origin
3-dimensional modeling has a long history in science science. Whether done with plaster, composite drawing, computers, or even the human imagination, every innovation was founded on a 3D model.
Before the modern age of computing, 3D modeling was much more basic. Many scientists utilized sketches and physical models to model inventions. Leonardo Da Vinci, an iconic 15th century inventor, is famous for his many detailed sketches and models. These included models of flying machines and weapons among other things.
3D modeling was inevitably developed because modeling is a neccesity in innovation. With researching or inventing, it is required that complex processes and data be understood, and this becomes quick and simple through visual representation.
Progress
3-dimensional modeling has come a long way since the 15th century, and has found many useful applications. Thanks to the advancement of computing power, 3D modeling has become effective in understanding large data sets or processes, that could otherwise be difficult to examine. In addition, 3D modeling is extremely useful for visualizing and understanding microscopic processes. This makes the technique useful throughout the world of science, and particularly beneficial in the field of biology.
Advancing Science
One specific technology that has been improved with thanks to 3D modeling is the simulation of protein folding. The key to how proteins fold can be portrayed in a 3-dimensional cone diagram (such as seen on the right). This model displays the protein's energy landscape and explains how a protein folds and how it folds so quickly.
This advancement in biotechnology has vastly improved modern technology in the field of protein simulation. Scientists now understand how any given combination of amino acids will fold, and because most of a protein's function is due to its unique shape, understanding folding has led to huge advancements in the field of biology.
Supercomputing
As scientists attempt to unravel more complicated problems of cell biology, computers and 3D models become absolutely necessary. Because they can perform billions of calculations per second, supercomputers are able to simulate and compute any biological process as long as they are given data and instructions. Although they are the ultimate tool for any scientist, supercomputers are very expensive.
The following video is a multi-purpose simulation of the human heart performed by Oakleaf-FX10, a supercomputer at the University of Tokyo. The 3D simulation will be incredibly benneficial for the understanding of the heart, as well as for improving the safety of heart surgery.
Although supercomputing 3D simulations is an incredibly useful tool, in today's world it comes with a massive price. The computer used to perform this simulation cost the University of Tokyo a base price of 32 million USD. This price does not include the cost of power to run the computer, which is about 150 USD per hour, adding up to 25,000 USD for one week of continuous processing.
This huge cost of supercomputing puts a bottleneck on research in the field of biotechnology and biology, as many simulations are only possible for those with access to a supercomputing facility. In the future, the field will likely progress to make supercomputing cheaper as well as more powerful, both of which will aid the vastly important technique of 3D modeling.