The principle of uncertainty in biology: Will machine learning/artificial intelligence lead to the end of mechanistic studies?

Journal: PLoS biology
Published Date:

Abstract

Molecular Biology has long tried to discover mechanisms, considering that unless we understand the principles, we cannot develop applications. Now machine learning and artificial intelligence enable direct leaps to application without understanding the principles. Will this herald a decline in mechanistic studies?

Authors

  • VĂ­ctor de Lorenzo
    Systems and Synthetic Biology Program, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologĂ­a (CNB-CSIC), Madrid 28049, Spain. Electronic address: vdlorenzo@cnb.csic.es.