AI Model From Google's DeepMind Reads Recipe for Life in DNA

An AI model developed by Google's DeepMind could transform our understanding of DNA - the complete recipe for building and running the human body - and its impact on disease and medicine discovery, according to researchers.

Called AlphaGenome, the model could help scientists discover why subtle differences in our DNA put us at risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, dementia and obesity.

It could also dramatically accelerate our understanding of genetic diseases and cancer.

The developers of the model acknowledge it's not perfect, but experts have described it as "an incredible feat" and "a major milestone".

"We see AlphaGenome as a tool for understanding what the functional elements in the genome do, which we hope will accelerate our fundamental understanding of the code of life," says Natasha Latysheva, research engineer at DeepMind.

The human genome is made up of three billion letters of DNA code – represented by the letters A,C,G and T.

Around 2% of it are genes which code for all the proteins the body needs to grow and function. The remaining 98%, which is less well understood, is labelled the 'dark genome'. It plays a crucial role in organising how genes are used in the body and is where many mutations linked to disease are found.

AlphaGenome can analyse one million letters of code at a time, helping to unravel the 'dark genome'.

It can predict where the genes are, but also what the 'dark genome' is influencing. For example, how it affects gene expression (whether a gene is highly active or being suppressed) and gene splicing (the tool the body uses to make different proteins from a single gene).

Crucially, the model can predict the impact of changing even a single letter in genetic code.

- James Gallagher, BBC

Read more..