AI-Engineered DNA Switches Enable Precise Gene Control in Specific Cells

Researchers have developed AI-designed DNA sequences that can selectively activate or repress genes in targeted cell types, offering new possibilities for gene therapy.

Scientists from The Jackson Laboratory, Broad Institute, and Yale University have created synthetic cis-regulatory elements (CREs) using AI to control gene expression with high specificity.
The AI model, utilizing deep learning, was trained on hundreds of thousands of DNA sequences to predict gene activation patterns in blood, liver, and brain cells.
The newly designed CREs outperform natural CREs by precisely targeting gene expression in specific cell types without affecting others.
This breakthrough allows for targeted gene therapy applications, potentially revolutionizing treatments by minimizing off-target effects in non-target tissues.
Experiments in zebrafish and mice confirmed the effectiveness of these synthetic CREs, paving the way for further biomedical research and therapeutic innovations.