Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have been making headlines for their potential applications in medicine, science, and beyond. Now, James T. Kadonaga, professor at the University of California, San Diego, and two of his research colleagues have leveraged machine learning, a type of AI, to identify rare and custom-tailored DNA sequences involved in gene activation.
Kadonaga, Long Vo ngoc (a former UC San Diego postdoctoral researcher now at Velia Therapeutics) and Torrey E. Rhyne (a staff research associate) used a method known as support vector regression to teach machine learning models using data from real-world experiments. The researchers tested 50 million different DNA sequences on the machine learning system, comparing the sequences of humans to those of fruit flies (Drosophila). By successfully allowing the AI models to discern rare, custom-tailored, human-specific DNAs as well as those specific to fruit flies, the research team uncovered a powerful new way to identify synthetically engineered DNA sequences with useful applications in biotechnology and medicine.
In the future, their strategy could be used to find DNA sequences that activate genes in certain tissues or drugs, or even detect the presence of drugs or other chemicals in a given sample. The capabilities of their technique – identifying highly rare, synthetic DNA sequences – could even be used to uncover solutions to problems that were previously thought to be impossible.
The research team’s accomplishments show the potential power of AI-based approaches in the field of biology. By leveraging this technology, biologists can more quickly and accurately identify and analyze data than they ever could before. Not only does this article pave a path for more efficient and effective data exploration, but also advances the understanding of gene regulation and the development of potential therapeutic solutions.
The University of California, San Diego, is a world-renowned research and teaching institution located in sunny La Jolla, California. From groundbreaking research into the origins of life to the development of innovative solutions to the world’s biggest problems, UC San Diego is dedicated to ensuring the future of humankind.This is demonstrated once again on their recent accomplishment, helping biologist push their research further by leveraging AI technologies.
James T. Kadonaga is a Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at UC San Diego and is the principal investigator of the research team that leveraged AI to discover rare, synthetic DNA sequences. He is an internationally-recognized leader in the field of gene regulation, and is the Director of the CEAC, an innovative center for advanced scientific research. Further, he has been recognized with top honors from the scientific community, including an award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). He is dedicated to furthering scientific progress in the field of gene regulation, and his work may help uncover groundbreaking solutions in the pharmaceutical and medical fields.
