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New AI Tool AlphaGenome May Transform Cancer and Genetic Disease Research
AlphaGenome: Understanding the secrets of genes behind diseases may now be easier. Google DeepMind has launched a new AI tool, AlphaGenome, that will help identify which genetic changes lead to heart disease, cancer, and mental illness.
A new dawn has emerged for the field of medical science. A new tool has been created by the Google DeepMind research team, which they claim will mark a milestone in the discovery of the hidden genetic causes of diseases. This new tool, called the AlphaGenome, will help scientists understand the working of the genes inside our bodies and how mistakes in those genes can cause serious diseases.
The blueprint of the human body, called the genome, is comprised of 3 billion pairs of letters in the DNA code, consisting of the four letters G, T, C, and A. Until recently, scientists had only known the meaning of 2 percent of this code, which makes the proteins that comprise our bodies. The remaining 98 percent, called the "non-coding" genome, was a complete enigma. AlphaGenome will examine this vast and unexplored portion.
This AI tool predicts how changes, or mutations, in DNA affect gene control. It's like a "volume control" button, determining when a gene will be turned on in which cell of the body, and how much or how little its activity will be.
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Heart disease, autoimmune disorders, mental health problems, and many types of cancer are directly linked to malfunctions in these gene control systems. But finding that one tiny error in a code of billions of letters was a daunting task.
AlphaGenome has been trained on a vast genetic database of humans and mice. Its unique feature is that it can analyze 1 million DNA letters simultaneously. According to DeepMind researcher Natasha Latysheva, this tool will exponentially accelerate our understanding of life's complex code, making it easier to understand how diseases like cancer take root in the body.
The benefits of this technology extend beyond disease detection; it will also aid in the development of new gene therapies. Researchers will now be able to create new DNA sequences that activate a gene in a specific part of the body, such as liver cells, without affecting the rest of the body.
Experts believe this technology will bring about a "step change" in medical science. According to Professor Mark Mansoor of University College London, this tool has revolutionized their research into the causes of cancer. However, scientists also say that more work is needed from the global scientific community to fully translate these AI predictions into reality.
