Jeff Dean (the Biochemist) @jeffdean@qoto.org

For the "Ideas" series at the New York Times, I take a look at what might be called LifeGPT: letting large-language-model-like programs teach themselves biology by looking at data from millions of cells. They are learning fast. Gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/10/science/ai-learning-biology.html?unlocked_article_code=1.bk0.l1XZ.5TSDyfPJ0Tgv&smid=url-share

"Here, we utilized unbiased genetic screens to map drug/gene interactions for a variety of clinically approved therapies used in the treatment of AML. This effort highlighted a unique genetic relationship between response to venetoclax and the function of specific RNA splicing factors."

#AML #leukemia #venetoclax #BCL2 #Apoptosis #RNASplicing #AcuteMyeloidLeukemia

https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(22)00588-8

Oh that was FAST fast.

GPT-2 output detectors work for GPT-3 and GPTChat, which means people who do stuff like turnitin plagiarism checks have a tool for this fast-moving new frontier.

Personally, I do a choose-your-own adventure/create-your-own-assignment model for most of my non-intro classes, at this point, and frankly i'd be inclined to make this into an assignment, in its own right. It could look something like:

"Generate a GPTChat output on [topic(s)], then expand on and correct the output with specific references and citations from class readings and lectures. Turn in the prompt, the original, and your corrections as your full submission."

Reframe it like that and it helps them think about what the GPT platforms are and do, and then you can integrate that into the whole of the semester's work, rather than making it an arms race of plagiarism and "Gotcha" tools.

https://wandering.shop/@janellecshane/109464780848248093

A timelapse showing the incredible movement of a growing vine, exhibiting both nastic movement to find, and then a thigmotropic response to grasp and hold.

Credit: Roger P. Hangarter

https://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/movements/nastic/nastic.html

#botany #nature #plants #science

It’s a wrap! I had a hoot taping The Graham Norton Show, laughing about life and discussing my legacy project Allegiance. Catch us on the tele Friday at 10:45p on BBC1 and twice again over the weekend!
For tickets to Allegiance: https://Allegiancemusical.com

Happy to share our latest work on marine giant viruses!

Diversity and genomics of giant viruses in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1021923/full

#Marine #GiantViruses #Viruses #Virology