Neural network trained to look for left-handed DNA

Previously, scientists believed that all DNA molecules are helices twisted to the right, but after

After the genome was analyzed, it turned out that this is not always the case. 

Some sections of chromosomes are twisted to the leftare called Z-DNA, and those that are twisted to the right are called B-DNA. Understanding which way chromosomes are twisted is important because it can cause diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

However, in diagnostics, spiral shapes existdifficulties: scientists do not yet have an accurate idea of ​​how often such segments occur inside chromosomes, what controls their formation, and how their structure may change over time. This is due to both the large size of the genome and the difficulties in searching for Z-DNA regions.

To simplify this task, Russianbioinformatics. In order to train it, they used information about already known gene regions, as well as data on how gene activity and protein synthesis in cells are regulated.

The most efficient model based on this typeScientists have used neural networks to predict where yet unknown sections of Z-DNA may be located in the human genome. Bioinformatics hope that they will soon be able to test predictions and use such data to study the role that Z-DNA plays in the body.

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