A new computer modeling technique allows scientists to predict the structure of the peptoid (artificial protein) they are creating, giving a greater understanding of the peptoid building process.

Just as it is with proteins, the structure of a peptoid molecule – the way it folds and chemically reacts to it’s own and other surfaces – dictates its function.

While scientists can synthesise peptoid molecules, past attempts at predicting the way those molecules would fold were unreliable.