The Power of Evo 2: AI Meets DNA

Evo 2 is the largest AI model for biology ever created, trained on an astonishing 9.3 trillion DNA "letters" (nucleotides) carefully selected from genomes spanning the entire tree of life. This massive dataset ensures that Evo 2 can recognize patterns and relationships in genetic sequences at an unparalleled scale.

For the first time, scientists can design DNA with AI, moving beyond simple sequence analysis to active DNA generation. Evo 2 enables researchers to predict, modify, and even create entire genetic sequences, opening new possibilities in medicine, agriculture, and synthetic biology.

Decoding the Dark Genome

One of the biggest challenges in genetics is understanding the non-coding regions of DNA—vast stretches of the genome that do not code for proteins but play crucial roles in regulating gene expression. These regions control when and how genes are activated, influencing everything from development to disease.

Evo 2 is designed to decode these non-coding elements, helping researchers uncover their functions and use this knowledge to develop gene-based therapies, synthetic life forms, and precision agriculture solutions.

From Reading DNA to Writing It

To put Evo 2’s impact into perspective:

• Previous AI models could "read" DNA like a book, analyzing genetic sequences and identifying patterns.
• Evo 2 can "write" entirely new DNA, designing functional genes, chromosomes, and even full genomes from scratch.

This means scientists can now engineer biological systems with AI, designing new proteins, metabolic pathways, and genetic circuits to address real-world challenges.

A Step Toward Generative Biology

The Arc Institute describes Evo 2 as a major step toward "generative biology"—a revolutionary approach where AI is used to create novel biological structures rather than just analyzing existing ones. This could lead to breakthroughs such as:

• New medicines: AI-generated enzymes and proteins tailored for targeted therapies.
• Disease-resistant crops: Genetically optimized plants for higher yield and climate resilience.
• Synthetic organisms: Custom-designed microbes for bioremediation, biofuel production, and industrial applications.

An Open-Source Revolution

Unlike many proprietary AI models, Evo 2 is open source, making its capabilities accessible to researchers worldwide. This democratization of AI-driven biology means that scientists from different disciplines can collaborate, experiment, and innovate, accelerating discoveries in genetic engineering and synthetic biology.

With Evo 2, the boundaries of what’s possible in DNA design, genetic engineering, and biological innovation are being redrawn. The future of life sciences is no longer just about understanding life’s code—it’s about writing it.

Applications with complete bio-data from candidates possessing the required qualifications are invited for the posts of JRF (1) and Project Assistant (1) in DBT, GOI-funded research project “Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)- based de novo assembly of expressed transcripts and genome information of Orchids in North-East India” in DBT’s Twinning programme for NE as per DBT sanction order and norms.

(i) JRF(1 no.):

Qualifications: M.Tech/M.Sc in Life Sciences/ Botany/ Zoology/ Biochemistry/ Biotechnology/ Bioinformatics;

Desirable: Aptitude for Bioinformatics and Computer Programming/ Next generation sequencing data analysis

(ii) Project Assistant (1 no.):

Qualifications: Graduation in Science,

Desirable: Experience of working in a Life Science/Plant Biotechnology lab. and familiarity with computers and field work viz. collection of samples.

The applications through email bicnehu@gmail.com or post must reach the undersigned within 15 days from the date of publication of this advertisement. The advertised posts are purely temporary for the duration of the project and subject to availability of the funds from DBT. The appointment does not confer any entitlement or right over the posts for absorption in the University service. Prof. Pramod Tandon, PI/Mr. Devendra Kumar Biswal (Co-PI) email: bicnehu@gmail.com

Advertisement: www.nehu.ac.in/Advertisements/BIC_AdvtPV_030815.pdf

You might learn a lot about that house—the rooms, the doors, the furniture—but you would miss the bigger story: the streets, the neighborhoods, and all the ways the city changes from one place to another.

Something similar happens when scientists study bacterial genomes one at a time.

Over the past decade, researchers have collected thousands of bacterial genomes. These genomes contain an enormous amount of information about how bacteria survive, adapt, and evolve. But comparing thousands of individual genomes can quickly become a computational maze.

That is where PANORAMA enters the story.

Developed by Jérôme Arnoux and colleagues, PANORAMA is a computational tool designed to explore bacterial pangenomes—the complete collection of genetic possibilities found across a species or group of related organisms. Instead of looking at every genome as an isolated object, the approach represents their shared and variable genetic features as a graph.

Think of this graph as a giant subway map.

Some stations appear on almost every route. These represent genes that are highly conserved. Other stations appear only on certain routes, representing genes that some bacteria possess while others do not. By looking at the entire network, scientists can begin to see not just *what genes exist*, but how they are organized and how biological systems are distributed across populations.

The researchers put PANORAMA to the test using 941 genomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium important in human health. They used the tool to investigate biological systems, including bacterial defense mechanisms against viruses known as bacteriophages. They then expanded the analysis to more than 6,000 genomes from four Enterobacteriaceae species.

The result is more than a faster way to process data.

PANORAMA allows researchers to ask a bigger question: What can an entire microbial species do, genetically speaking?

By comparing pangenomes, the researchers could identify systems shared between species as well as distinctive features. They could also find recurring genomic locations where genetic material is inserted—clues that may reveal common evolutionary processes.

And this is perhaps the most exciting part of the story.

Every bacterial genome is like a page in a huge evolutionary book. Until recently, reading thousands of those pages together was difficult. PANORAMA provides a way to turn those pages into a map, allowing scientists to see patterns that might disappear when each genome is studied separately.

The study, published in PLOS Computational Biology in July 2026, presents PANORAMA as a foundation for large-scale comparative pangenomics. The software and accompanying analysis resources are openly available, giving other researchers the opportunity to explore microbial diversity themselves.

So the story is not really about one bacterium or one genome.

It is about changing the way we look at life.

Instead of asking, “What is inside this genome?”, scientists can increasingly ask, “What is the full genetic landscape of this species—and how did it become this way?”

And sometimes, when you stop looking at one house and finally see the whole city, the most interesting discoveries are hiding in the streets between them.

Read more at https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013856

Jawaharlal Nehru University has been granted funds by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India to initiate an Inter-School programme in JNU to strengthen training and research called "DBT-Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-Interdisciplinary Life Science Programme for Advanced Research and education" with the broad project area entitled "From Molecules to Systems: Exploring biological space using chemical and synthetic biology" cutting across Physical, Chemical and Biological Sciences.

Applications are invited for the following purely temporary posts at various levels in the various Group projects for Research and Technical positions. The project is upto March 2017, but the appointments shall be initially for a period of one year, renewable every year depending on the performance of project staff:

Project Sub-Title: Synthetic Genomics: Making sense out of 'junk' DNA

Senior Research Fellow (SRF) - 01 Post

Qualifications: M.Sc in Bioinformatics, with minimum 2 year research experience, specialization in microRNA, molecular modelling, systems and/or Synthetic biology with publication in the relevant area would be desirable.

Investigator: Prof. Pawan Kumar Dhar

Fellowship: Rs. 14000+30% HRA p.m.

Project Sub-Title: "Structure, function, and dynamics of biomolecules and Molecular engineering"

Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) - 01 Post

Essential Qualifications: PhD in Science(Bioinformatics/Computational Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, & Statistics), specialized in the area of Computational Biology/Structural Bioinformatics/ Quantum Chemistry/Molecular Dynamics & Simulation /Systems Biology , reflected by thesis topics and or publication of papers during PhD and/or Post doctoral experience.

Desirable Qualifications: Computational methods and designing experience in the field of Structure based or ligand based drug design, Chemoinformatics, Programming capabilities as required for developing tools in the computational & systems Biology.

Investigator: Prof. Indira Ghosh, SCIS

Salary: Rs. 22, 000 + 30% HRA

(Note: Revised emoluments shall be payable if Educational Qualifications or Eligibility Criteria as per DST OM No. A.20020/11/97-IFD dated 31-03-2010 are met by the research personnel)

The applications on plain paper indicating name, date of birth/age, address, essential / technical / professional qualifications, experience, research work, should reach the Programme Coordinator on or before 27th August 2015 at the following address:

The Envelop should be marked for the Post applied for. Any clarifications regarding projects may be sought from the respective project investigators as mentioned.

Address for correspondence:
Programme Coordinator
DBT-JNU BUILDER programme
School of Biotechnology
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi 110067

More at http://www.jnu.ac.in/career/currentjobs.htm

A recent study by Webster and Chapman introduces Buscogeny (https://github.com/Jwebster89/Buscogeny), an open-source bioinformatics pipeline designed to make this process easier. The tool uses BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs), which identifies conserved genes that are expected to occur as single copies in particular groups of organisms. These genes act like evolutionary landmarks, allowing researchers to compare genomes and investigate their relationships.

Buscogeny brings several steps of phylogenomic analysis into one workflow. It identifies BUSCO genes, extracts and aligns their sequences, removes unreliable regions, combines information from multiple genes, and uses the resulting data to construct a phylogenetic tree. It also provides quality-control information, helping researchers identify genomes that may be too incomplete for reliable analysis.

The authors demonstrate the usefulness of Buscogeny with bacterial and fungal genomes, including Alternaria. This is particularly valuable because fungal genomes can vary greatly in quality and annotation. Ultimately, Buscogeny helps transform massive amounts of genomic data into an understandable evolutionary story. Each DNA sequence becomes a clue, each conserved gene becomes a landmark, and together these clues reveal a picture of how life is connected.

More at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10123-025-00752-6?

The position is open for immediate appointment and available for two years and then extendable for additional one year. The applicant will be appointed as Research Associate based on qualifications as detailed below:

Research Associate:

-Master’s degree with bioinformatics with at least 2 years of research experience in Next Generation sequencing data analysis as evidence from Fellowship/ Associateship / Training / other engagements.

-Familiarity with bioinformatics tools, database development, programming skills

-Minimum 1 publication in any peer reviewed journal

Salary will be as per ICAR rules and guidelines. Application will be shortlisted based on CV, reference letters from mentors and telephonic interview. Candidates will be called for a personal interview at Bangalore before appointment. No travel expense will be provided for attending interview at Bangalore.

Interested candidates may send a Letter of Interest and CV by email to: keshav@ibioinformatics.org before September 29, 2015.

Working with other members of the TNDRG you will analyse complex genomic and epidemiological datasets, evaluating which computational tools are most suitable. You will contribute to the generation of innovative tools for linking epidemiological and multilevel omics datasets, ensuring that computer programs are written in a form that other collaborators can use and expand.

You will have or be close to completion of a PhD in either: bioinformatics; neuroscience; machine learning; statistics; epidemiology; neurology; or other relevant field. You will have experience programming on either R, Matlab, Python, C++, Java or any other imperative, object oriented or functional language.

Please direct Informal enquiries to Dr Alejo Nevado-Holgado (alejo.nevado-holgado@psych.ox.ac.uk).

You will be required to upload a supporting statement explaining how you meet the selection criteria for the post, a CV, and details of two referees as part of your online application.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday on 2 September 2015. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 15 September 2015.

https://www.recruit.ox.ac.uk/pls/hrisliverecruit/erq_jobspec_version_4.jobspec?p_id=118696

Junagadh Agricultural University has given a recruitment notification to fill the posts of Senior, Junior Research Fellows in the establishment.

Name & No: of Posts:

1. Senior Research Fellow: 05
2. Junior Research Fellow: 05

Title of the Projects under Senior Research Fellow:

1. Molecular mapping of important traits and their transfer through marker assisted selection in Groundnut and cotton
2. Aflatoxin and its management in groundnut at Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
3. Improvement in Agricultural Production through nanotechnological inventions at Junagadh.
4. Synthesis and Characterisation of chitosan based NPK-Nano fertilizers

Title of the Projects under Junior Research Fellow:

1. Improvement in Agricultural Production Through Nanotechnological Inventions at Junagadh.
2. Synthesis and Characterisation of chitosan based NPK-Nano fertilizers

Required Eligibility Criteria:

1. Senior Research Fellow:

Age Limit: Candidates age must be maximum 35 years
Educational Qualification: M.Sc in Nanotechnology/Biotechnology/Bioinformatics
Salary: Rs. 16,000/- + HRA for first and second year, Rs. 18,000/- + HRA during third year

2. Junior Research Fellow:

Age Limit: Candidates age must be maximum 30 years
Educational Qualification: B.Sc or M.Sc degree in the field of Nanotechnology/Biotechnology
Salary: Rs. 9,600/- , Rs. 14,400/- p.m

Eligible candidates may attend the walk-in-interview on 10-09-2015 with necessary certificates of testimonials

Click Here for Detailed Recruitment Notification
http://www.jau.in/attachments/Advt/BiotechSRFJRF.pdf

Project Fellow Bioinformatics recruitment in Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB) purely temporary

Name of the Project: "Genomics and Informatics Solutions for Integrating Biology(Genesis)".

No. of Vacancies: 1

Qualification required : M.Sc in Bioinformatics with 55% Marks.

Experience (Desirable): Candidate should be well versed with sequencing data analysis,assembly and annotation of whole genome sequence. Experience in transcriptional data analysis is also preferred.

Age Limit : 28 Years

Stipend : Rs.16000
How to apply
Interested candidates may appear for the walk-in-interview to be held on 28.09.2015 from 11.00 a.m. in the Red Carpet Room with the following documents self attested copy - (1) Matriculation Certificate in support of your date of birth, (2) Degree/Diploma Certificate, (3) Original reprints of all testimonials regarding educational qualification, (4) No Objection Certificate from the employer if employed, (5) Final Mark Sheet of M.Sc. Examination, (6) One Passport size photograph.

http://www.career.iicb.res.in/Recruitment%20Notice.php