Reacción a "AI-designed proteins could expand the CRISPR genome-editing toolkit beyond those produced by evolution"

The research appears to be very sound. The results are clear and come from a laboratory with an excellent reputation. The data is presented as it is, without any exaggeration.

The study marks another step forward in the growing convergence between AI and synthetic biology. There are several examples of generative AI being used to create editing tools. The company Profluent presented a Cas9 nuclease created using generative AI last year, and we presented transposons created using generative AI last year as well. This is yet another example; the authors have created a very small editor from the TnpB family.

We are increasingly able to design biology on a computer. However, this design is inspired by nature and still relies on experimentation. We cannot yet design complex proteins entirely in silico.