Researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute have announced the creation of the world’s first entirely AI-generated genome, which can infect and kill bacteria. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the field of computational biology, as assembling an entire genome poses a complex challenge involving multiple interacting genes and regulatory sequences.
The AI-generated genome was derived from a bacteriophage known as ΦX174, a virus that infects E. coli bacteria. Previously, ΦX174 was the first genome ever fully sequenced in 1977 and synthesized from scratch in 2003. For this project, the researchers utilized a genomic language model named Evo, which was trained on thousands of genomes to generate candidate designs. After synthesizing several AI-designed genomes, lab tests confirmed that 16 of them were functional, showcasing numerous mutations not found in nature.
This development illustrates the potential of AI in the biotechnology sector. Scientists believe that it can significantly advance the process of designing new viruses capable of overcoming traditional resistance, providing valuable insights for various applications in healthcare and beyond.
- Why it matters:
- This breakthrough may expedite the development of novel therapeutic approaches, especially in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Understanding and designing genomes with AI could lead to more efficient biological research and innovation.
- The latest:
- The research team successfully created 16 functional viruses, each containing hundreds of unique mutations.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/scientists-create-worlds-1st-functioning-ai-designed-viral-genome-10259754/
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/scientists-create-worlds-1st-functioning-ai-designed-viral-genome-10259754/