Biology is becoming programmable.

In this episode of Galaxy Balance, Cory Smith speaks with Yuanhao Qu, President and Co-Founder of PhyloBio, about the emergence of AI driven biological discovery. Yuanhao represents a new generation of scientists who combine genome engineering with large language models to build systems that can reason about DNA and accelerate research across the life sciences.

The conversation explores Yuanhao’s journey from early cancer research to developing CRISPR-GPT and Biomni, tools designed to help scientists design experiments, analyze data, and navigate the growing complexity of biological research. The discussion then moves to the founding of PhyloBio and the idea of an integrated biology environment where AI agents collaborate with human researchers.

We examine the future of genome engineering, the challenges of delivering gene therapies, and how AI agents may soon assist in designing experiments, generating hypotheses, and exploring massive biological datasets. They also discuss the possibility of automated laboratories, the evolving role of scientists in an AI-augmented research ecosystem, and the ethical boundaries that must guide advances in synthetic biology.

The episode closes with a discussion of science fiction, biosecurity, and the long term vision of AI systems that help humanity understand life at every scale.

If biology becomes a language, the next frontier will belong to those who learn how to speak it.

Phylo is a research lab developing cutting-edge agentic intelligence to accelerate discovery for biomedical scientists. They are building Biomni Lab, an integrated biology environment that leverages the latest AI to transform how biologists work. Explore it at biomni.phylo.bio

Phylo is also actively hiring. Learn more at phylo.bio/careers

Timestamps:

00:00 - Embracing rapid change and AI tools in biology
02:24 - Yuanhao’s background and motivation to cure cancer
04:11 - Analyzing complex diseases with genomics and AI
07:25 - Switching focus to AI-guided discovery and CRISPR engineering
12:13 - Building and deploying CRISPR-GPT to democratize gene editing design
16:23 - How AI enhances the role of scientists rather than replacing them
20:52 - The story behind PhiloBio and its vision to accelerate biotech innovation
24:01 - Developing BioOmni: an AI environment for biological research
28:21 - The future of AI in autonomous labs and the challenge of human-in-the-loop systems
36:33 - Ensuring safety and predicting oncogenic risk in genome engineering
42:49 - Advances needed in delivery mechanisms for gene therapies
45:02 - Insights into human intelligence evolution and AI’s role in discovery
51:04 - The significance of memory, personalization, and continuous learning in AI agents
55:06 - Ethical dilemmas in human germline modification and societal impacts
58:30 - Speculations on life’s prevalence in the universe and the Dark Forest hypothesis
59:46 - Advice for aspiring scientists eager to innovate with AI