Unlocking the Power of Artificial Intelligence: How Primate DNA Is Revolutionizing Genetic Medicine
Introduction:
Scientists have found a new way to improve predictions about disease-causing genetic mutations in humans, thanks to the latest applications of artificial intelligence. This breakthrough was made possible by analyzing an expanded DNA database of primates, which helped researchers identify common genetic variants that impact humans. By training a new AI algorithm, the research team was able to make significantly more accurate predictions, improving the chances for better genetic risk prediction and health research.
The Study:
A global team of scientists collaborated with Illuminate, a US-based company that manufactures DNA sequencing equipment, to identify 4.3 million common genetic variants found in the genomes of 233 primate species. To predict their health effects, they trained an AI algorithm called PrimateAI-3D with data about these mutations and the 3D structures of the proteins they produce, a technique that could lead to improved human health outcomes.
Results:
The research showed “significantly improved genetic risk prediction,” allowing scientists to better predict human diseases by studying nonhuman primates. It will increase knowledge in human genetics and aid health research, particularly for populations that are not well covered by previous medical studies. Furthermore, the new technique offers new guidance for conservationists seeking to protect dwindling primate populations.
Primate Genetic Diversity:
The biggest surprise from the research was learning that the level of genetic variation in primate species is typically two to four times that of humans. By applying the latest AI techniques, we can now identify mutations that can cause disease in humans with greater precision. Ancestral humans are thought to have lost genetic diversity as populations dwindled to very low numbers tens or hundreds of thousands of years ago, but primate genetic diversity, even in rare and endangered species, could benefit conservation efforts.
Human Genetics and Health Research:
The findings from the project were particularly effective at finding rare genetic variants that confer a high risk of joint disease, achieving 12% more accuracy than any previous method of assessing genetic risks of developing health problems such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. One advantage of the new technique is that it applies equally to all populations overcoming biases against European white ancestry inherent in existing assessments of genetic risks that rely primarily on data from these groups. The study is a significant step toward implementing genetic medicine for diverse non-European populations, says Kyle Farh, Illumina’s vice president for AI.
Saving Primate Populations:
In addition to the medical advancements, the study has critical implications for primate conservation efforts worldwide. Jeffrey Rogers of Baylor College of Medicine, one of the consortium leaders, says, “If we can save the habitats, there’s enough genetic variation in the surviving populations.” The research showed that primate genetic diversity could also benefit the animals’ conservation, even in very rare and endangered species, as it provides useful insights for conservationists and those studying the evolution of primates.
Conclusion:
The findings from this study demonstrate the powerful potential of applying artificial intelligence techniques to DNA databases. The combination of genomic information from nonhuman primates and the latest AI technology can make it possible to improve genetic risk prediction, help advance health research, and offer new guidance for conservationists seeking to protect endangered primate species. With the power of AI and primate genetic diversity, researchers can unlock new possibilities in medicine, ecology, and beyond.
Summary:
Scientists have discovered how to make more accurate predictions about disease-causing genetic mutations in humans by applying artificial intelligence techniques to an expanded primate DNA database. The project combined the genetic information of around 800 primates belonging to 233 species of monkeys, apes, and lemurs, which made it possible to improve genetic risk prediction and advance health research. By training an AI algorithm called PrimateAI-3D, the researchers analyzed the DNA of 454,000 human participants in the UK Biobank project. The findings were particularly effective at finding rare genetic variants that confer a high risk of joint disease, achieving 12% more accuracy than any previous method of assessing genetic risks of developing health problems such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The project has critical implications for primate conservation efforts worldwide, with the new technique offering new guidance for conservationists seeking to protect endangered primate species. With the power of AI and primate genetic diversity, researchers can unlock new possibilities in medicine, ecology, and beyond.
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A global team of scientists has discovered how to make more accurate predictions about disease-causing genetic mutations in humans after applying artificial intelligence techniques to an expanded primate DNA database.
The project combined the genetic information of around 800 primates belonging to 233 species of monkeys, apes and lemurs. An AI algorithm based on the genomic database was then used to analyze the DNA of 454,000 human participants in the UK Biobank project, with the results showing ‘significantly improved genetic risk prediction,’ the researchers said.
“We have shown that the more we learn about genetic variation in nonhuman primates, the better we can make predictions about which mutations can cause disease in humans,” said Jeffrey Rogers of Baylor College of Medicine, one of the consortium leaders.
The consortium’s work will increase knowledge in human genetics and aiding health research, particularly for groups that are not well covered by previous medical studies, while improving guidance for conservationists seeking to protect dwindling primate populations. The results were published on Thursday in Science magazine.
Academic researchers have collaborated with Illuminate, the US company that manufactures DNA sequencing equipment, to identify 4.3 million common genetic variants found in the genomes of 233 primate species. To predict their health effects, they trained an AI algorithm called PrimateAI-3D with data about these mutations and the three-dimensional structures of the proteins they produce.
“You can train a generative language model like ChatGPT on existing text from Wikipedia and elsewhere,” said Kyle Farh, Illumina’s vice president for AI. “We used a similar deep learning architecture, but our data comes from millions of years of natural selection.”
The scientists then applied PrimateAI-3D to identify potentially harmful human mutations, using the DNA and medical data of 454,000 volunteers who donated samples to the UK Biobank.
The findings were particularly effective at finding rare genetic variants that confer a high risk of joint disease. Farh said PrimateAI-3D was overall 12% more accurate than any previous method of assessing genetic risks of developing health problems such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
One advantage of the new technique, he added, was that it applied equally well across humanity, overcoming the biases against populations with European white ancestry inherent in existing assessments of genetic risks, which rely primarily on data from these groups.
“It is a step towards implementing genetic medicine for diverse non-European populations,” said Farh.
Genomic research also has important implications for primates themselves.
For Rogers, “the biggest surprise was learning that the level of genetic variation in primate species is typically two, three or even four times that of humans. This gives us a perspective on human genetic variation that is very low, even among people in Africa, by the standards of other primates.”
Ancestral humans are thought to have lost genetic diversity as populations dwindled to very low numbers tens or hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Primate genetic diversity, even found in very rare and endangered species, could also benefit the animals’ conservation, Rogers added: ‘If we can save the habitats, there’s enough genetic variation in the surviving populations.’ .
Jean Boubli, professor of tropical ecology and conservation at the University of Salford and a leading member of the consortium, called his work a ‘game changer in the study of many aspects of primate evolution’. Many of these species are under threat and the findings here could help with conservation efforts,” he said.
https://www.ft.com/content/af659789-e14a-461d-9626-77f62a2bccd9
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