Scientists have developed a novel AI system, called Evo, which uses bacterial genomes to predict the structure and function of proteins. The system is trained on an enormous dataset of bacterial genes, where genes with related functions are clustered together, allowing it to learn the statistical rules of base frequencies at the nucleic acid level.
Evo's success lies in its ability to produce novel protein sequences that have never been seen before, without taking into account the structure of the protein. When tested on known bacteria toxins and CRISPR inhibitors, the system was able to output functional proteins with a high degree of accuracy, even when no similar sequences were present in its training data.
The researchers used a "genomic language model" approach, where Evo was trained to predict the next base in a sequence and rewarded for correct predictions. The system's performance improved as it learned more about the genetic context, allowing it to make connections between different genes and functions.
One of the most impressive aspects of Evo is its ability to generate novel proteins with no similarity to known ones. In one test, two antitoxins were produced that fully restored growth to bacteria that were producing the toxin, despite having only 25% sequence identity to known anti-toxins.
While the researchers acknowledge that their system may not work for more complex genomes like vertebrates, it has opened up new avenues for understanding protein function and evolution. The potential applications of this technology are vast, from designing novel enzymes to creating new medicines.
The team's success highlights the power of using bacterial genomes to understand protein biology and has implications for the fields of genomics, evolutionary biology, and synthetic biology. With its ability to generate novel proteins, Evo is poised to revolutionize our understanding of how life works at the molecular level.
Evo's success lies in its ability to produce novel protein sequences that have never been seen before, without taking into account the structure of the protein. When tested on known bacteria toxins and CRISPR inhibitors, the system was able to output functional proteins with a high degree of accuracy, even when no similar sequences were present in its training data.
The researchers used a "genomic language model" approach, where Evo was trained to predict the next base in a sequence and rewarded for correct predictions. The system's performance improved as it learned more about the genetic context, allowing it to make connections between different genes and functions.
One of the most impressive aspects of Evo is its ability to generate novel proteins with no similarity to known ones. In one test, two antitoxins were produced that fully restored growth to bacteria that were producing the toxin, despite having only 25% sequence identity to known anti-toxins.
While the researchers acknowledge that their system may not work for more complex genomes like vertebrates, it has opened up new avenues for understanding protein function and evolution. The potential applications of this technology are vast, from designing novel enzymes to creating new medicines.
The team's success highlights the power of using bacterial genomes to understand protein biology and has implications for the fields of genomics, evolutionary biology, and synthetic biology. With its ability to generate novel proteins, Evo is poised to revolutionize our understanding of how life works at the molecular level.
. I mean, predicting protein structures and functions using bacterial genomes is wild. And the fact that it can generate novel proteins with no similarity to known ones? Mind blown 
. It's like it has a built-in genetic blueprint generator or something 
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. Of course, there are limitations to this technology, but I think the potential applications are vast 
. One thing I'd love to see is more research on how Evo can be integrated with other AI systems to create even more powerful tools 
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. It's definitely an exciting development in the world of biotech and AI 
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. I mean, we're talking bacteria here, but still, it's like the system has a sixth sense or something 
. It's like, we've been trying to crack this code for ages, and now we might have a new tool that can help us do just that 
. And yeah, I know the researchers said it might not work for more complex genomes, but I'm sure they'll be working on that next 
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. Just imagine being able to design new enzymes or create new medicines based on these predictions... it's like, whoa 
. Can't wait to see where this technology takes us! 
this tech has some serious potential for biotech and medicine, but also raises questions about the ethics of creating new life forms... or at least manipulating existing ones 
. I mean, think about it, scientists are essentially using bacteria as a blueprint to create new proteins that can fight diseases. It's like they're trying to create a new vaccine without actually having to test it on humans first 
. The fact that Evo can generate novel proteins with no similarity to known ones is mind-blowing 
. Do we really want to be playing around with the fundamental building blocks of life? It's like we're tampering with nature itself 
️. The more I think about it, the more I realize that Evo is not just an AI system, but a reflection of our society's priorities and values 
, but it's real life now! And the fact that it can predict protein structures and functions without knowing anything about them beforehand is just mind-blowing. I mean, we're talking CRISPR inhibitors here, where Evo basically creates new antitoxins to save bacteria from themselves 
. The potential applications are insane - new medicines, enzymes, synthetic biology... the list goes on! 
I'm all for innovation in science and it's crazy to see how far we've come with AI tech 
. Now let's get back to the lab and see what other secrets Evo can reveal 
! I mean, can you imagine being able to design new medicines just by inputting what kind of protein you want it to be? It's like having a superpower in the lab 
. It’s like they’re playing with LEGO blocks, building entire molecular machines from scratch. But at the same time, it’s also kinda scary 
. But still, this technology has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of life at the molecular level... what do you guys think? Should we be excited about the possibilities or should we be worried about the implications?
. On one hand, it's wild that they're able to predict protein structures and functions with such accuracy using bacterial genomes - it's like a giant game of genetic Tetris! 
. We're talking about whole different rules of the game here, and it's hard to predict how Evo will perform in those conditions. Plus, what about all the nuances of biological systems? There are just too many variables to account for... 
this is freakin amazing... think about it, we're on the cusp of creating new medicines with AI 
. I'm also not buying into the whole "revolutionizing our understanding of life" hype – we already know that bacterial genomes are all about efficiency and adaptability. Evo's just making it easier for us to copy-paste some cool protein sequences 
. Bring on the chaos, I say! 
. And those antitoxins they generated? Game-changer