Key points from article :
Google DeepMind has unveiled AlphaGenome, an artificial intelligence system designed to help scientists identify the genetic changes that contribute to disease. The tool analyses how mutations affect the way genes are switched on and off, a process known as gene regulation, which plays a major role in conditions ranging from cancer and heart disease to autoimmune and mental health disorders.
Unlike many previous models, AlphaGenome can examine up to one million DNA letters at a time and predict how even a single genetic change may influence a wide range of biological processes. Researchers say this could help unravel the mysteries of the 98% of the human genome that does not directly code for proteins but is crucial for controlling gene activity.
Scientists have welcomed the advance, describing it as a major step forward for computational genomics. By bringing together predictions that previously required several specialised tools, AlphaGenome could speed up efforts to understand disease-causing mutations and support the development of new gene-based therapies.
However, experts caution that the technology is not yet a replacement for laboratory experiments. While AlphaGenome can generate powerful predictions, further research and testing will still be needed before its findings can be routinely applied in clinical medicine.
Research was done by Google DeepMind and it was published in Nature.
