Profluent, an AI-driven protein design company based in Berkeley, has unveiled the OpenCRISPR-1 initiative, introducing the world’s first open-source, AI-generated gene editor. This launch marks the successful precision editing of the human genome using customizable gene editors crafted entirely through AI innovation.

Profluent’s technology leverages vast amounts of biological data to design novel gene editors, much like ChatGPT learns to generate language from diverse sources such as Wikipedia articles and chat logs.

The company plans to present its findings at the upcoming annual American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy meeting.

By harnessing AI to analyze microscopic biological mechanisms used in DNA editing, this cutting-edge technology promises to revolutionize the battle against illnesses and diseases with unprecedented precision and efficiency.

Profluent’s gene editor is open-source

Profluent has announced that it makes the OpenCRISPR-1 technology freely available through open-sourcing. This move allows individuals, academic institutions, and companies to explore and experiment with the technology at no cost.

While it’s customary for AI researchers to open source the software powering their AI systems to foster collaboration and innovation, it’s less common for biological labs and pharmaceutical companies to take a similar approach with inventions like OpenCRISPR-1.

It’s worth noting that while Profluent is sharing the gene editors produced by its AI technology, it is not releasing the underlying AI technology itself to the public domain.

The technology operates on a model that draws insights from sequences of amino acids and nucleic acids. These chemical compounds form the basis of the microscopic biological mechanisms scientists use in gene editing.

In essence, the system scrutinizes the functions of CRISPR gene editors found in nature, learning from them to create entirely novel gene editors.

“These A.I. models learn from sequences — whether those are sequences of characters or words or computer code or amino acids,” Profluent CEO Ali Madani stated to The New York Times.

The gene editors developed by Profluent are built upon the pioneering techniques recognized with Nobel Prizes, which revolve around biological mechanisms known as CRISPR.

Call to pressure test OpenCRISPR-1

CRISPR-based technology has already begun revolutionizing scientific research and healthcare by offering a means to modify genes responsible for hereditary disorders like sickle cell anemia and certain forms of blindness.

Traditionally, CRISPR methods have relied on natural mechanisms sourced from bacteria. These mechanisms, derived from bacterial biological material, enable these microorganisms to defend against pathogens.

As OpenCRISPR-1 is the company’s first public release, it is seeking feedback from researchers to develop its work further. 

“We encourage the gene editing community to pressure test OpenCRISPR-1,” said Peter Cameron, Profluent’s head of gene editing.

“If there are particular features that could be improved for a specific application, we’d like to know and can collaborate to optimize those properties,” he added.

Profluent published its research in a preprint publication.