Since the development of the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) program, there has been exponential advancement in the field of technology and this has resulted in technology being even more integrated into our everyday lives. AI is an umbrella that categorizes “intelligent” tasks. It uses machine learning, deep learning and artificial neural networks to create layers, basically a hierarchy of data in a “human brain” inspired model to allow machines to learn and predict outcomes (Patel et al, 2019). Whether we know it or not, we use AI based systems in items we may overlook, from the text predictive algorithms on our phones and emails, facial recognition technology in the tagging systems on social media, Siri for voice communication and much more. 

No drug affects two different people exactly the same way. When it comes to prescribing medicine, an ideal situation would allow a physician to calculate independent dosages for each patient based on numerous factors, from environmental to genetic factors, to ultimately provide the best course of treatment. AI has also integrated itself into medicine such that care like this is available. Instead of a one-size-fit-all approach, precision medicine has allowed for patient specific treatment that is faster, cheaper and more accurate. Since the start of precision medicine in the 1990s, we’ve successfully discovered a range of technology and medicine that provide optimal results. The famous Human Genome Project took a 13-year global effort to sequence three billion base pairs of the first human genome (U.S. Department of Energy, 2019). Now, there are large data bases of gene sequences, protein sequences, nucleotides, and so on that can be found on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website and can use AI based algorithms to do large searches.

Such extensive databases, automation machines, and testing tools allow faster and more precise investigation that provide scientific discoveries to generational health problems and human body anomalies. Geneticist Dr. Steve Horvath had developed the epigenetic clock which used an algorithm that could determine your age, and even your age of death (Horvath S. 2013). Since then, the algorithm has continued to improve for more accuracy. Stem cell therapy includes personalized medication to cure tissue damage secondary to surgery, toxins, trauma, aging and disease. Stem cell therapy helped aid ACL tears in professional athletes like basketball player Kobe Bryant, NFL player Adrian Clayborn, golfer Tiger Woods, and so many more (BioInformant, 2019). New medical devices like automotive insulin pumps and diagnosis tools like Sepsis Watch have been created to assist patients. 

We have spent the last few decades exponentially growing in the field of biotechnology. Now, we are in the 6th wave of innovation in the technological revolution which has used AI and precision medicine towards the path of biomimicry. Biomimicry, or biomimetics uses nature as a model. It’s purpose is to solve complex biological problems in a technological-oriented approach. The umbrella of precision medicine has allowed us to improve health care to patients. The use of AI in precision medicine has allowed astonishing new discoveries and has solved many biological issues. While the idea of biomimicry is still coming into play, and there are still concerns and critiques to make on AI in precision medicine, the new wave will continue to build on the success we have had in patient oriented care and continue to advance medicine. 

References:

BioInformant. (2019, November 17). 40 Pro Athletes Who Have Had Stem Cell Treatments. Retrieved from https://bioinformant.com/athletes-stem-cell-treatments/ 

Horvath S. (2013). DNA methylation age of human tissues and cell types. Genome biology, 14(10), R115. https://doi.org/10.1186/gb-2013-14-10-r115

Patel, Urvish & Anwar, Arsalan & Saleem, Sidra & Malik, Preeti & Rasul, Bakhtiar & Patel, Karan & Yao, Robert & Seshadri, Ashok & Yousufuddin, Mohammed & Arumaithurai, Kogulavadanan. (2019). Artificial intelligence as an emerging technology in the current care of neurological disorders. Journal of Neurology. 10.1007/s00415-019-09518-3.

U.S. Department of Energy. (2019, April). Human Genome Project Information Archive1990–2003. Retrieved from https://web.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/index.shtml