Highlights:

  • Scientists are making the most of AI (artificial intelligence) by decoding 29 different DNA sequences that lead to the novel coronavirus.
  • As per the researchers at Western University in Canada, the new tool will provide a rapid classification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  • Backed by scientific studies, the origin of the deadly virus is bats.
  • The classification tool has the potential to analyze over 5,000 unique viral genomic sequences with 29 novel coronavirus sequences.

As per the researchers from Western University in Canada, the new data discovery tool developed using the potential of AI is all set to quickly classify a deadly virus like SARS-CoV-2 in a matter of two minutes.

Researchers reveal that on January 27, 2020, this classification tool successfully analyzed over 5,000 unique viral genomic sequences along with the 29 novel coronavirus sequences.

In the fight to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic at the earliest, scientists are making optimum use of AI to detect an essential genomic signature that carries 29 different DNA sequences of the novel coronavirus that leads to COVID-19, and the technology is a critical tool for vaccine and drug developers.

The new tool plays an essential role by contributing to the strategic planning and mobilizing of medical needs in the global crisis.

The PLOS ONE journal has published a study that supports the concept of a scientific hypothesis that the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19 originates from bats as Sarbecovirus, a subgroup of Betacoronavirus.

More about the new discovery tool

Researchers state that the tool is engineered to deliver rapid, scalable, and accurate classification as the system makes use of a new graphic-based, specialized software and the decision-tree approach to illustrate the classification and select the best out of all possible outcomes.

Additionally, it is interesting to learn that the machine learning tool potentially achieves a cent percent accurate classification of the novel coronavirus sequence. And most importantly, it has the capability of discovering the most relevant associations with over 5,000 viral genomes within 60 seconds.

Kathleen Hill, a professor at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, mentioned, ”All we needed was the COVID-19 DNA sequence to discover its own intrinsic sequence pattern.” She added, “We used that signature pattern and a logical approach to match that pattern as close as possible to other viruses and achieved a fine level of classification in minutes — not days, not hours but minutes.”

Professor Hill is of the opinion that the new tool will work as an essential element of the toolkit for COVID-19 soldiers, such as the vaccine and drug developers, researchers and scientists, frontline health-care workers, and more.