Profluents open source AI CRISPR tool brings gene editing to the masses
Open source changed the technology industry now imagine what everyone could do if they had open access to editing the human genome at scale ...
Key takeaways
- The company is open-sourcing OpenCRISPR-1 for free ethical research and commercial use and published the science behind the protein's development in a preprint publication.
- The Profluent team developed a database of 5.1 million Cas9-like proteins, and the AI model was trained on this database to create potential proteins for CRISPR use.
- After narrowing down the results, they identified OpenCRISPR-1, a protein performing similarly to Cas9 but with far less impact on off-target sites.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2024) 'Profluents open source AI CRISPR tool brings gene editing to the masses', 311 Institute, 28 May. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/profluents-open-source-ai-crispr-tool-brings-gene-editing-to-the-masses/ (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled protein design company Profluent has leveraged AI to design an open-source gene editor called OpenCRISPR-1, demonstrating the technology can be used to create molecules with the power to edit human DNA. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology, developed more than a decade ago, allows scientists to modify DNA sequences within living organisms precisely. Potential applications range from treatments for genetic disorders to researching disease mechanisms.
The molecules it designs are fully synthetic and do not exist in nature, in contrast to previous technologies in gene editing, such as CRISPR-Cas9.
The company is open-sourcing OpenCRISPR-1 for free ethical research and commercial use and published the science behind the protein's development in a preprint publication.
"Attempting to edit human DNA with an AI-designed biological system was a scientific moonshot,” Ali Madani, Profluent cofounder and CEO, said in a statement. "Our success points to a future where AI precisely designs what is needed to create a range of bespoke cures for disease."
AI was at the heart of this achievement, with the company training Large Language Models (LLMs) on massive scale sequence and biological context. The Profluent team developed a database of 5.1 million Cas9-like proteins, and the AI model was trained on this database to create potential proteins for CRISPR use.
This enabled the LLM to create novel gene editors from scratch as it learned through examples found in nature. After narrowing down the results, they identified OpenCRISPR-1, a protein performing similarly to Cas9 but with far less impact on off-target sites. This makes it more precise and causes minimal damage to DNA.
The goal of open-sourcing OpenCRISPR-1 is to encourage the use of AI for ethical research and commercial use, particularly in developing medicines leveraging CRISPR.
"We believe by doing so, we can help accelerate the pace of discovery and innovation in the field," Madani said. "Our vision is to move biology from being constrained by what can be achieved in nature to being able to use AI to design new medicines precisely according to our needs."
He added that the company intends to partner with cutting-edge research institutions and drug developers working across the drug development life cycle to enable CRISPR medicines to become available to a greater number of patients and for a greater number of disorders.
Gene-editing technologies, including SHERLOCK and DETECTR, are transforming digital diagnostics, enabling rapid detection of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
Companies such as Atomwise, Deep Genomics and Valo are incorporating gene editing into drug discovery processes, revolutionizing treatment development.
Beyond gene editing, AI is powering everything from bone marrow analysis software to drug discovery and platforms to help pair patients with the right cancer-treatment drugs.
What this means for your organisation
Protein design becomes a design task.
The system learned from millions of natural proteins and produced new ones. Editing tools can now be designed to specification rather than found. Research teams should expect a wider toolkit each year.
Precision is the commercial edge.
OpenCRISPR-1 is reported to work like Cas9 with less impact on off-target sites. Precision determines safety and approval prospects. Therapeutics firms should compare editors on off-target data first.
Open release changes access.
Releasing the tool openly spreads capability far beyond one company. That speeds discovery and widens who can experiment. Expect regulators to focus on who may use such tools and how.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Could designed editing tools accelerate our therapeutic pipeline?
- Do we compare editing tools on off-target precision?
- How would tighter oversight of gene editing affect our plans?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
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Open source changed the technology industry now imagine what everyone could do if they had open access to editing the human genome at scale ...
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
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