Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that designs synthetic DNA sequences to precisely control gene activity, marking a significant advancement in generative biology. This innovation allows scientists to instruct cells with unprecedented precision, guiding their development and behavior.
The AI, known as Computational Optimization of DNA Activity (CODA), predicts DNA combinations needed to activate specific genes in targeted cells. Scientists can synthesize these DNA fragments and introduce them into cells, creating custom genetic switches that control gene expression.
Published in *Nature* on October 23, 2024, this new tool holds potential for gene therapies that fine-tune gene activity and identify genetic variants causing diseases. CODA could bring gene therapy to diseased cells in a more targeted manner, leaving the therapy inactive in healthy parts of the body where it might otherwise cause harm. This advancement could lead to more effective and safer treatments for brain disorders, metabolic diseases, and blood disorders.