Coupling AI with bio-based hardware: Natural language processing for accelerated directed evolution of gene editors and writersCoupling AI with bio-based hardware: Natural language processing for accelerated directed evolution of gene editors and writers

Gene editing is revolutionizing bioscience and therapy. Our lab has developed a gene writing tool combining the precision of CRISPR and gene transfer capacity of a transposase (Pallarès-Masmitjà et al, Nat Com 2021) which was licensed to our lab spin off Integra Tx. We are planning to develop improved gene writers for safer and more efficient therapies with aid of the B-bio (new retrovirus-based directed evolution platform developed by our lab). A key part for the success of this massively genotype testing platform is library design and analysis using AI. Natural language processing as been very powerful to represent protein language and will be used to fuel genotypes and accelerate evolution. Coupling this biological hardware with AI will massively accelerate the evolution rate of new CRISPR based editors and writers.