A group of scientists from the Russian Quantum Center led by Alexey Fedorov together with
Acceleration of genome assembly in the absencereference using quantum computers will make it possible to use the obtained data to provide emergency medical care and in the analysis of new types of diseases. Although the complete reconstruction of the original genome needed to personalize a medical approach is still impossible on quantum computing devices due to their insufficient power, scientists were able to develop an algorithm and solve a number of technical difficulties, thereby increasing accuracy and speeding up the process of data analysis.
Quantum computing devices are capable ofprocess a larger number of variables, while significantly reducing not only time, but also financial costs. The results could greatly facilitate the study of new species and structural changes in DNA that cannot be detected by classical mapping, and genomic rearrangements in cancer cells. Thus, the introduction of quantum technologies contributes to the more rapid development of personalized medicine.
The first genome was sequenced more than 40 years ago(bacteriophage fX 174). However, while the first assembly of the human genome took about 13 years, today public and private institutions are able to complete this process in a few weeks. Participants in the experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of quantum computing in bioinformatics tasks, conducting research for the first time based on both real and simulated data.
“One of the most important tasks in the field of quantumComputing is about finding useful applications. Bioinformatics and genetics often face complex computational problems that can be accelerated by quantum computers. In our research, we showed the possibility of using certain types of quantum computers—quantum annealing devices—to solve genome assembly problems. We also used a quantum-inspired annealing algorithm, which is based on modeling the behavior of quantum systems. In the future, the range of applications of quantum computing technologies in genetics problems can be significantly expanded,” said Alexey Fedorov, lead author of the study.
“The capabilities of quantum computers allowtake a fresh look at tasks, including bioinformatics, which previously seemed computationally too complex. In our study, we assessed the prospects for using quantum computers in the analysis of the genomes of humans and other organisms. At the junction of these areas, new methods appear, with the help of which growing volumes of data are analyzed more qualitatively (note, the genome of one person occupies about 100 Gb). In addition, new methods allow you not to wait for days for the results of genetic research in situations where the clock is counting ”- said Alexander Rakitko, Genotek Product Director.
ICQT is the largest Russian and one of the mostprestigious world conferences on quantum technologies. The program includes not only high-level scientific reports, but also an Open Day for a wide audience. This year the conference was organized by the Russian Quantum Center, the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom and the National Quantum Laboratory. The general partner of the event is Sberbank. The partners were the Russian Academy of Sciences, Gazprombank, the Roscongress Foundation and MISiS. The event takes place within the framework of the Year of Science and Technology.
Results published in ScientificReports and presented at the VI International Conference on Quantum Technologies ICQT-2021. The study was also supported by the Russian Science Foundation, as well as access to quantum computing devices as part of the global fight against COVID-19.
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