Google DeepMind’s AlphaGenome AI Tool | 31 Jan 2026

Why in News? 

Google DeepMind has launched AlphaGenome, an artificial intelligence tool designed to predict how genetic mutations influence gene regulation and contribute to human diseases. 

Key Points 

• Objective: The AI tool developed by Google DeepMind is used to analyse long DNA sequences and predict the biological impact of genetic variations. 
  • Primarily targets non-coding (regulatory) DNA regions, which constitute about 98% of the human genome and play a key role in gene regulation. 
• DNA Analysis Capacity: Capable of analysing up to one million DNA base pairs simultaneously, allowing assessment of long-range genetic regulatory effects. 
  • Predicts effects of mutations on gene expression, RNA splicing, chromatin accessibility, and regulatory activity. 
  • Helps to identify genetic drivers of complex diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, autoimmune diseases, and neurological conditions. 
• Training Data: Trained on large-scale public genomic datasets from humans and mice to identify patterns linking DNA sequences with biological outcomes. 
  • Acts as a virtual laboratory, enabling scientists to test genetic hypotheses before conducting costly and time-consuming biological experiments. 
• Availability: Released for non-commercial research use through an Application Programming Interface (API) to support global scientific collaboration. 
• Limitations: Not approved for clinical diagnosis or personalised medical treatment; predictions depend on quality and diversity of training data.