Biologists and computer scientists have developed the robo-scientist Adam. The researchers from the universities of Aberystwyth and Cambridge in the United Kingdom describe in a new paper in Science, how Adam has developed a hypothesis on the encoding of specific growth genes in yeast and then tested this hypothesis. Following the same procedure as a human scientist.

Adam consists of a central computer that automatically controls a cell growth chamber and complicated analysing and measuring devices. The computer is equipped with advanced software that allows Adam to develop hypotheses and then design and carry out experiments to test these hypotheses.

Adam based his hypotheses on which genes codes for which enzymes in yeast cells from a database of published knowledge collected by the researchers. Adam developed 20 hypotheses, some of which turned out to be correct, but already known. The researchers, however, tested one of Adam’s hypotheses with the traditional scientific procedure and showed that Adam had discovered a previously unknown connection between genes and the production of a specific enzyme.

Although the researchers admit that Adam cannot (yet?) think ‘outside the box’ like human scientists, then Adam show for the first time that software and hardware can develop original research findings, at least in the more technical biological disciplines.

Source
Sciene 2009, Vol 324, pages 85-89.