AI is Writing Genomes. Should We Be Nervous or Excited?
What happens when AI starts designing life itself? Hint: it’s not all sci-fi glory.
Stanford’s AI model Evo, inspired by ChatGPT, is now creating genomes from scratch. Trained on millions of microbial and viral DNA sequences, Evo excels at predicting how genetic mutations affect function. It even designed new components for CRISPR, producing a working protein and RNA combo in a lab — a major leap in synthetic biology.
Unlike traditional DNA models, Evo works with single-letter precision while preserving complex genetic "threads." This breakthrough enables it to explore the vast potential of genetic design but with limits — it generated a bacterial genome that, while structurally promising, couldn’t sustain life. Like other AIs, Evo "hallucinates," creating non-functional genetic systems.
- Evo predicted mutation effects better than peers.
- It codesigned protein-DNA systems for CRISPR.
- Designer genomes still lack key functions.
As AI rewrites the genetic playbook, how should we balance its potential to heal with its risks of creating unintended chaos?
Read the full article on Singularity Hub.
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