American tech company Google has recently revealed a new AI model designed for sequencing DNA, the building block of all life. This new model, called AlphaGenome, can process long sequences of DNA and accurately predict how mutations can affect the DNA’s function. This technology was developed by Google’s AI division DeepMind, which is led by Demis Hassabis.
Google DeepMind stated in their official blog post, “Today, we introduce AlphaGenome, a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that more comprehensively and accurately predicts how single variants or mutations in human DNA sequences impact a wide range of biological processes regulating genes”.
According to Google, AlphaGenome takes up to 1 million DNA base-pairs as inputs and predicts the properties and regulatory activities of each sequence. It then analyzes how a single mutation would alter the prediction values by comparing it to the baseline values. This has generated excitement in the scientific community as it offers a potential new dimension in the field of genetic disease.
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Various cancers to all kinds of deformities can be traced back to different mutations in the genome of human bodies. DeepMind claims to offer the first unifying model for researchers to use. “This means that scientists can generate and test hypotheses more rapidly, without having to use multiple models to investigate different modalities”, the company said.
AlphaGenome is Google DeepMind’s latest model developed for genetics, the study of the human genome. They have launched AlphaFold, an AI model that can predict protein structures. For its innovation and contribution in the field of genetics, AlphaFold2 won DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
AlphaGeome is available for non-commercial use via the AlphaGenome API as a preview only. Google has invited researchers to use its AI and share feedback for further modifications.
