The language of plants has been deciphered by AI. As described by the John Innes Centre and the University of Exeter, the AI model PlantRNA-FM, developed by their plant researchers, is considered “groundbreaking” and “revolutionary.” This model aims to decode the genetic language of plants.
PlantRNA-FM: A Technological Breakthrough
According to researchers, PlantRNA-FM is the first tool of its kind. This technological breakthrough is expected to advance discoveries and innovations in plant research. It could also benefit the study of invertebrates and bacteria.
RNA, similar to its chemical relative DNA, is a key molecule found in all living organisms. It carries genetic information through its sequences and structures, regulating biological functions such as plant growth and stress responses.
Understanding the Functions of RNA Language
RNA sequences consist of nucleotides arranged in specific patterns, comparable to words and sentences in human languages. To better understand the functions of the complex RNA language, PlantRNA-FM was developed.
The AI model was trained with 54 billion pieces of RNA information. These data encompass the genetic patterns of over 1,100 plant species and the alphabet of the plant RNA language.
Similar Training to ChatGPT
In developing PlantRNA-FM, researchers followed a similar approach to OpenAI’s training of ChatGPT. Instead of human language, the AI model learned the plant-based RNA language and eventually understood the grammar and logic of RNA sequences and structures.
The AI model has already been used to make precise predictions about specific RNA functions, which were then confirmed through experiments.
AI Model Deciphers Hidden Patterns
“While RNA sequences may appear random to the human eye, our AI model has learned to decipher the hidden patterns within them,” explained bioinformatician Haopeng Yu from the John Innes Centre, who participated in a study published in Nature Machine Intelligence.
According to the researchers, PlantRNA-FM is just the beginning. With AI support, further models are expected to be developed to understand hidden DNA and RNA languages in nature.
Programming and Creating New Plants
Why is this important? Understanding the DNA and RNA language of plants allows for programming them to enhance their resilience or yields. It could also enable the development of entirely new, more efficient crops.