Discovering 130k New Viruses in 11 Days: Dr. Artem Babaian on RNA, AI & Pandemic Prevention | Ep. 12

Can AI help prevent the next pandemic? Dr. Artem Babaian used computational biology to uncover 130,000 new RNA viruses in just 11 days, dramatically expanding our knowledge of viral diversity.In this episode of In Vivo, we explore:-How RNA viruses evolve & why they mutate so fast- The Serratus Project and its role in global viral surveillance- How AI, machine learning & cloud computing helped accelerate virus discovery- Why most viral genomes remain hidden in public databases- The importance of open-source science & big data in biology- How this research can help predict and prevent future pandemicsAbout Dr. Artem Babaian:Dr. Artem Babaian is a computational biologist and virologist who led the Serratus Project, a groundbreaking effort that used cloud computing to scan massive genetic databases for hidden viruses.Listen in to understand how AI and big data are reshaping virology and pandemic preparedness!Introduction to RNA and Its Evolutionary Significance - 00:02:28Explaining RNA's Role in Biology - 00:02:47The RNA World Hypothesis - 00:05:06Computational Biology and Its Impact - 00:07:05The Serratus Project: Origins and Goals - 00:09:56The Sequence Read Archive and Data Mining - 00:13:03Transition from Coronaviruses to All RNA Viruses - 00:20:22Methodology and Barcoding for Virus Discovery - 00:23:05The Scale of Virus Discovery with Serratus - 00:25:27Open Sourcing and Community Science - 00:27:07The Naming of Serratus - 00:30:23Future Predictions for Virus Discovery - 00:31:40Global Genomic Surveillance and Data Sharing - 00:33:07Implications of Discovering New RNA Viruses - 00:35:00The Role of AI in Virus Discovery - 00:37:30Using AlphaFold for Viral Protein Structure - 00:55:07RNA Modifications and Epi-transcriptomics - 01:00:38Philosophical Perspectives on Viruses and Life - 01:01:20Personal Journey and Inspirations - 01:10:02The Value of Diverse Training in Virology - 01:13:43The Role of Luck and Perseverance in Science - 01:16:00Job Market for Young Scientists - 01:18:56Qualities for Success in Computational Biology - 01:23:35Creativity and Resourcefulness in Science - 01:27:13How to Connect with the RNA Lab - 01:28:25Closing Remarks - 01:30:40Dr. Babaian's Lab - https://www.rnalab.ca/Dr. Babaian on X - https://x.com/RNA_LifeThe Serratus Project - https://serratus.ioIn Vivo on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GBvPPvSx52O6ILuam4LoX?si=6c903566ae7b4761&nd=1&dlsi=254f9f5e78194002