Scientists Use AI to Resurrect , Neanderthal and Denisovan Molecules.
Vox reports that scientists have resurrected molecules with antibiotic properties found in extinct organisms, specifically from Neanderthals and Denisovans.
.
Vox reports that scientists have resurrected molecules with antibiotic properties found in extinct organisms, specifically from Neanderthals and Denisovans.
.
Neanderthals are believed to have gone extinct 40,000 years ago, while Denisovans are thought to have survived until as recently as 15,000 to 30,000 years ago.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Machine Biology Group say the breakthrough opens the door to "molecular de-extinction.".
The team trained an AI model to determine which molecules could make effective antibiotic treatments for modern humans.
.
Those molecules were then created in a lab and tested on infected mice.
.
According to the team's findings, which were published in the journal 'Cell Host & Microbe,' some of the molecules effectively fought off bacterial infections.
According to the team's findings, which were published in the journal 'Cell Host & Microbe,' some of the molecules effectively fought off bacterial infections.
This is completely new.
We came up with the term ‘molecular de-extinction’ and this is the first peer-reviewed paper that describes it.
So it’s quite exciting for us, César de la Fuente, Co-author of the study, via 'Vox' .
Vox reports that molecular de-extinction could create avenues for developing new antibiotics, at a time when the CDC has warned we are entering a post-antibiotic era.
Vox reports that molecular de-extinction could create avenues for developing new antibiotics, at a time when the CDC has warned we are entering a post-antibiotic era.
Due to the overuse of antibiotics in the treatment of humans, animals and crops, bacteria have adapted to drugs used to treat them.
.
Along with other recent discoveries, molecular de-extinction is just one creative method being combined with AI for antibiotic discovery.
