AI generated its first working genome: a tiny bacteria killer

AI-designed bacteriophages could one day be used in phage therapy

An illustration of multiple DNA helices are shown scattered around a blue background. Light seems to reflect off the helices, giving them a plastic, artificial shine.

Two AI models called Evo 1 and Evo 2 generated multiple bacteriophage genomes from scratch. In lab dishes, some of those bacteria-killing viruses outperformed a well-studied strain.

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