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Molecular De Extinction

All articles tagged with #molecular de extinction

science-and-technology2 years ago•3 min saved

"Unearthing Ancient DNA: A Promising Source for Novel Antibiotics"

Researchers are using machine learning and molecular de-extinction to discover new antibiotics. By training a computer to execute Darwin's algorithm of evolution, they were able to evolve initial antibiotics into more effective ones. They then used computer models to search for peptides in the proteome of Neanderthals and Denisovans, finding over 2,500 peptides with anti-infective traits. Through solid phase chemical synthesis, they created peptides that effectively killed bacteria in petri dishes and animal models. While not potent enough to be antibiotics on their own, these peptides serve as templates for further study of anti-microbials.

via NPR|

#antibiotics #antimicrobial-resistance #machine-learning

science-and-technology2 years ago•4 min saved

"Reviving Ancient Molecules: Unearthing Antibiotic Potential from Neanderthals and Denisovans"

Scientists have successfully recreated molecules produced by extinct branches of the human family, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, for the first time. This "molecular de-extinction" could help us understand our long-lost relatives and potentially fight pathogens to which they may have been immune. By studying the proteins coded in the DNA of our nearest relatives, researchers hope to gain insights into their immune systems and develop new ways to combat diseases in the modern world.

via IFLScience|

#ancient-dna #denisovans #molecular-de-extinction

science-and-technology2 years ago•6 min saved

"Reviving Neanderthal Antibiotics: AI Scientists Make Groundbreaking Progress"

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania's Machine Biology Group have used AI to resurrect molecules with antibiotic properties found in extinct organisms, specifically Neanderthals and Denisovans. By training an AI model to predict effective antibiotics for modern humans, the researchers identified strong candidates and successfully created those molecules in the lab. Testing on infected mice showed that some of the molecules effectively fought off bacterial infections. This breakthrough in "molecular de-extinction" opens up new possibilities for drug discovery and could help address the urgent need for new antibiotics in the face of increasing antibiotic resistance. However, the ethical and legal implications of resurrecting molecules that no longer exist in living organisms remain uncertain.

via Vox.com|

#ai #antibiotics #drug-discovery