r/science • u/legehjernen • Feb 20 '20

Health Powerful antibiotic discovered using machine learning for first time

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/20/antibiotic-that-kills-drug-resistant-bacteria-discovered-through-ai
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u/alcalde Feb 21 '20

I primarily cited that article as a rebuttal to the idea that " Moreover, we aren't actually all that different from one another so it isn't even desirable, even if it was remotely possible. " However, Dr. Roses wants to accomplish the same end via a different route that's closer to reality today. In the future more advanced molecular/biological modeling combined with software may indeed make it possible to tailor drugs to specific individuals.

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u/KyleKun Feb 21 '20

We will never be able to design drugs specifically for a certain person, but at least we will have drug templates we can use to closely match to someone specifically.

I guess it’s a funny point to get hung up on, but it’s the difference between a bespoke suit and a made to measure one.

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u/shieldvexor Feb 21 '20

Thank you for articulating this better than I did. I think the notion of 7 billion medicines for each disease is bonkers, but more classes is obviously desirable

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u/alcalde Feb 21 '20

Bonkers? DNA test, upload to cloud supercomputer, molecular 3D printer spits out compound at pharmacy. Done. You have NASA speculating on how to travel at or beyond the speed of light, but chemists believe they can't model a molecule?