Science Quickly A new AI tool to decode DNA, a medical marvel and a rebel lipstick vine
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Feb 2, 2026 Tanya Lewis, Senior Health and Medicine Desk Editor at Scientific American, explains DeepMind’s AlphaGenome and how it tackles noncoding DNA. She also walks through a harrowing medical case where doctors kept a man alive without lungs. Finally, she discusses a surprising evolutionary story about a rebel lipstick vine.
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AI Maps DNA's Regulatory 'Dark Matter'
- AlphaGenome targets noncoding DNA to reveal how gene expression is regulated.
- The model can streamline hypothesis testing about regulatory mutations for downstream disease research.
Use AI To Prioritize Lab Experiments
- Use AlphaGenome as a research tool to prioritize experiments rather than a clinical solution yet.
- Let the model narrow hypotheses so labs can test the most promising regulatory mutations quickly.
Keeping A Patient Alive Without Lungs
- Northwestern doctors removed a man's lungs and used a total artificial lung system to keep him alive for 48 hours.
- He stabilized, received a double lung transplant two days later, and survived at least two years post-surgery.