An artificial intelligence (AI) model has simulated half a billion years of molecular evolution to design the blueprint for a previously unknown protein called esmGFP. This glowing protein, akin to those found in jellyfish and corals, could pave the way for groundbreaking medical advancements, researchers claim.
Tiffany Taylor, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Bath in the U.K., praised the potential of AI-driven protein engineering but expressed caution. “AI-driven protein engineering is intriguing, but I can’t help feeling we might be overly confident in assuming we can outsmart the intricate processes honed by millions of years of natural selection,” Taylor said.
She also noted that while the study simulates 500 million years of evolution, it focuses only on individual proteins, bypassing the broader stages of natural selection that create life.
The Role of Proteins in Life
Proteins are essential building blocks of life, performing diverse functions like building muscles and combating disease. The newly designed protein, esmGFP, represents a novel type of green fluorescent protein (GFP). In nature, GFPs are responsible for the luminescent glow of jellyfish and corals.
