Learning to Read and Write Protein Evolution

Explore the intersection of evolutionary biology and machine learning in this hour-long lecture by Brian Hie from Stanford University School of Medicine. Delve into how modern evolutionary models, particularly protein language models, are revolutionizing our understanding of past evolution and enhancing artificial protein design. Discover how these models can predict mutation effects on fitness and evolutionary directionality across vast timescales. Learn about the application of protein language models and structural evolutionary models in guiding artificial evolution, including antibody affinity maturation and the creation of novel proteins with unprecedented structures. Gain insights into the powerful role of evolution in real-time pathogen resistance and the diversity of natural forms and functions.