A group of researchers from the University of Sydney and other institutions, including the Chinese National Fund of Natural Sciences, made a breakthrough in the field of virology. Using advanced technologies of artificial intelligence, scientists discovered 161,979 new types of viruses containing the genetic material of RNA.
For this, scientists have developed an algorithm for deep learning LucAprot, capable of analyzing the extensive genetic data of viruses. With this algorithm, researchers were able to classify and systematize a huge amount of information, which allowed them to detect such a significant number of new viral species.
Although many of these viruses have already been known to science, artificial intelligence allowed scientists to organize this information and classify it by categories.
Edwards Holmes, one of the authors of the study, called this discovery “a window in a previously hidden part of life on Earth.” He emphasized that this is the largest number of new viral species ever discovered in the framework of one study.
Scientists are sure that in nature there are many more unopened viruses and that the developed algorithm can be used to study other microorganisms such as bacteria and parasites.
Another scientist Mang Shchi noted that before the use of artificial intelligence to analyze genetic data, scientists used bioinformatic conveyors.
However, according to him, such conveyors limited the possibility of detecting various types of viruses.
According to Shi, the created model of artificial intelligence allows us to conduct a much deeper analysis of the viral diversity. Researchers plan to use this model in various fields.
The study was published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell.