American researchers have achieved a scientific first by using artificial intelligence to generate entirely new viruses.
A team at Stanford University developed an AI system that can write genetic code from scratch. The program, called Evo 2, was used to create designs for 16 different viruses that infect bacteria.
The researchers tested these AI-generated viruses in their laboratory. They found that the new viruses were better at killing common bacteria than natural viruses found in nature.
Phages, as these bacterial viruses are known, have been used in medicine for decades. Doctors in some parts of the world use them to treat infections when antibiotics do not work.
Some experts have welcomed the breakthrough. Adrian Woolfson, a genomics specialist, called it a turning point for biology. He said scientists are now moving beyond what nature has already created.
But the research has also prompted warnings about safety. The Stanford team took steps to reduce risks. They did not train their AI on viruses that could infect humans or animals. They also worked with harmless bacteria.
Thomas Inglesby and Moritz Hanke from Johns Hopkins University wrote a companion piece in the same journal. They said current rules are not enough to manage this new technology. They argued that society needs better oversight.
The AI program is available for anyone to download and use., as the team is not looking to make money from the work. They are funded by grants and believe the technology should be shared widely.
The researchers said the same approach could one day be used to design larger organisms, not just viruses. For now, they are focused on safe applications in medicine.
Via: BBC