AI Is Learning to Write Genetic Code
AI models generated viable bacteriophage genomes, with 16 designs successfully replicating and some outperforming the original virus at attacking E. coli.
Two AI models generated complete genome designs for bacteriophages modeled on ΦX174, a virus known to infect E. coli. Researchers produced about 700,000 candidate designs, selected 285 promising ones, and synthesized DNA inserted into E. coli, yielding 16 viable viruses. Some of the newly generated viruses proved more effective at attacking E. coli than the original bacteriophage.
- Models generated roughly 700,000 genome designs
- 16 of 285 selected designs produced viable bacteriophages
- Some synthetic viruses outperformed the original ΦX174
- First demonstration of AI-written genomes proving viable
- Organizations
- Schneier on Security
From the original article
1 min read at schneier.comThe two models in question were told to generate complete genomes for a viable bacteriophage—a type of virus able to infect and replicate itself inside bacteria, destroying them from the inside. Using an existing bacteriophage as an example—ΦX174 (pronounced “fie-ex-1-7-4”), known for its ability to infect and destroy E.
By Bruce Schneier · schneier.com
A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.