- Complete hepatitis D genome encoded in a quantum processor as a proof-of-concept step
- Researchers target future 100x speedups for complex human pangenome analysis tasks
- Scientists warn that practical quantum genomics still faces limitations in scaling and hardware
Scientists have loaded a complete genome onto a quantum computer for the first time, taking a first step toward solving biological problems that easily overwhelm traditional systems.
In time for World Quantum Day, teams from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Melbourne have encoded the complete genome of the hepatitis D virus in quantum hardware.
The hepatitis D virus carries a compact genome of approximately 1,700 base pairs, making it a suitable proof-of-concept target.
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Compress genetic information into quantum states
The researchers used the smaller data set to test whether real biological data could be translated into a format that quantum machines can handle.
The genome was loaded onto an IBM quantum computer using its 156-qubit Heron processor.
To successfully encode the sequence, it was necessary to compress the genetic information into quantum states that could fit within the limits of available qubits.
Traditional computers have struggled to keep pace with increasing genomic data, creating processing bottlenecks that limit how quickly scientists can analyze variation between populations. The evolution toward pangenomes, which combine sequences from many individuals, adds further complexity.
Instead of relying on a single reference sequence, pangenomes divide into multiple pathways representing genetic diversity. Finding useful patterns within these branching paths quickly becomes computationally demanding, particularly as datasets grow.
“Our goal has always been to push the boundaries of what is possible in genomics,” said Dr Sergii Strelchuk of the University of Oxford. “When we work with pangenomes, the information is presented as a tangled maze, but we build quantum algorithms to help find the best path through this maze when classical tools, such as classical computers, remain hopelessly stuck.”
Quantum computing offers a possible way forward by representing multiple possible outcomes at once in qubit states. This capability could allow certain genomic calculations to be performed much more quickly than traditional approaches.
Researchers involved in the project are aiming for a future benchmark for processing complete human pangenomes up to 100 times faster than traditional tools. The hepatitis D test itself does not enable this speed, but demonstrates a path to achieving quantum advantage on a larger scale.
Some scientists remain cautious about how quickly this transition could occur. As Science.org reports, until quantum systems process larger genomes and perform comprehensive analyses, it is unclear whether they will outperform well-established classical methods.
Even with these limitations, loading a complete genome into quantum hardware marks an impressive technical milestone. The next phase focuses on scaling the approach and transforming experimental workflows into tools that other researchers can use.
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