AI tool compares 125 cell types across 700 million years of evolution
Researchers at KAUST have developed an AI tool called Unify that compares cell types across different species by analyzing gene function rather than direct gene matches. This tool helps scientists better understand biological evolution and the relevance of animal studies to human health.
Why it matters
This technology could significantly accelerate medical research by allowing for more accurate cross-species biological comparisons.
by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source The Unify framework for balanced cross-species integration. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76230-y A KAUST-led team has developed the AI tool Unify to help scientists compare similar cell types across distant species. This comparison can help researchers assess which findings from animal studies may be most relevant to human health. Their study is published in the journal Nature Communications .
Scientists often compare cells using single-cell RNA sequencing , which shows which genes are active in each cell. When carried out throughout an organism, this information can be used to build a "cell tree," mapping different cell types and their activity.
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