Inferring Gene Regulatory Networks

Inferring gene regulatory networks, meaning the process of reconstructing the complex web of interactions that control gene expression within a cell, is hard. Conventional methods struggle modelling the complex, simultaneous interactions among all genes.

Quantum computing offers a novel approach by using quantum circuits where each gene is represented by a qubit, and qubit entanglement simulates gene-gene interactions simultaneously. This quantum model maps single-cell transcriptomic data into a high-dimensional space, enabling the simultaneous inference of multiple gene interactions.

Early applications of this method have successfully predicted known and novel regulatory relationships more precisely than classical methods. This quantum-inspired technique holds promise for advancing biological understanding and health research by providing more complete and accurate gene network models.