They taught AI to edit genes with CRISPR. It knocked out 4 skin cancer genes.

AI can now generate biologically valid designs that translate to real genetic changes

Imagine being able to tell an AI, "Please generate a guide RNA to knock out the BRCA1 gene in human kidney cells," and having it not only design the optimal guide RNA sequence, but also walk you through the entire experiment from start to finish - selecting the right CRISPR system, recommending delivery methods, predicting potential off-target effects, and planning out the validation steps.

A groundbreaking new paper just published this week promises to make this sci-fi scenario a reality.

In this post, we'll take a deep dive into the inner workings of what the researchers built - the first comprehensive AI agent for CRISPR experiment design. We'll explore how it combines large language models, knowledge bases, and external tools to make the power of CRISPR more accessible than ever before. We'll translate the key technical concepts into plain English, critically analyze the implications and limitations, and talk a bit about what this development means for the future of biomedical research.