Artificial Intelligence1 min read

Google’s AlphaGenome 2 zooms in on the cellular roots of disease

By · Via The Verge · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The tool resolves a longstanding challenge in genetics by demonstrating how identical DNA sequences trigger varying disease risks depending on which specific genes different cell types activate. DeepMind trained the platform on over 100 million individual cell profiles across 68 tissues, allowing it to evaluate novel cellular states without requiring retraining. However, the system's demanding computational footprint means it will coexist with DeepMind's previous model rather than fully replace it. Google is opening access via an API for non-commercial researchers alongside a restricted commercial preview.

Key points

  • Researchers can deploy the system to evaluate previously unseen cell types and identify m…: Researchers can deploy the system to evaluate previously unseen cell types and identify missing experimental data without additional retraining.
  • Scientists aim to leverage the model's granular cellular insights to discover root diseas…: Scientists aim to leverage the model's granular cellular insights to discover root disease mechanisms and streamline targeted drug development.
  • Non-commercial investigators can access the model via an API, while private commercial pa…: Non-commercial investigators can access the model via an API, while private commercial partners receive limited preview access.

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Researchers at Google DeepMind have unveiled a new AI model designed to unravel how changes in our DNA affect different cells, giving scientists a more detailed view of a notoriously difficult problem that could hold important clues to the causes of disease — and point the way to new treatments.

Google’s AlphaGenome 2 zooms in on the cellular roots of disease

DeepMind’s new DNA model better predicts how mutations affect different cells, potentially opening paths to treatment.

DeepMind’s new DNA model better predicts how mutations affect different cells, potentially opening paths to treatment.

AlphaGenome 2 is the successor to DeepMind’s genome-predicting AI model AlphaGenome, which was released last year. While nearly every cell in the human body carries the same DNA, different types of cells — from heart muscle cells and skin cells to immune cells fighting an infection — switch different genes on and off, and those patterns can change depending on what a cell is doing. As a result, the same genetic variant can have very different effects depending on the type and state of the cell.

The…

Artificial Intelligence