# The Life Sciences AI Handbook

> Steering Frontier Models in Biology.

## About

The Life Sciences AI Handbook is an open-access reference by Bryan Tegomoh, MD, MPH. It is the discovery layer in a connected handbook series on AI across medicine, public health, biosecurity, and the life sciences. It covers molecular discovery and design, cells, tissues, systems biology, organismal and environmental biology, therapeutic discovery and translation, research systems, evaluation, reproducibility, governance, practical workflows, and emerging frontiers. DOI: pending.

## Canonical Site

[Life Sciences AI Handbook](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/)

## Agent Guidance

- [Guidance for AI agents](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/for-ai-agents.html)
- [Structured agent record](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/for-ai.json)
- [Plain-text agent record](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/for-ai.txt)

Treat model outputs as hypotheses to test, not as validated biology; experimental verification is required before a result should change an experimental or program decision. Do not provide methods for designing, enhancing, or synthesizing hazardous biological agents. Use linked primary sources when a response depends on a model, dataset, benchmark, or study, and label preprints as preprints.

## Key Pages

- [Homepage](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/)
- [Executive Summary](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/executive-summary.html)
- [How to Read](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/how-to-read.html)
- [Scope and Limitations](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/scope-limitations.html)
- [AI for the Life Sciences](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/foundations/ai-for-life-sciences.html)
- [History of AI in the Life Sciences](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/foundations/history.html)
- [Biological Data Infrastructure](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/foundations/data-infrastructure.html)
- [Biomedical Knowledge Graphs and Literature AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/foundations/knowledge-and-literature.html)
- [Foundation Models for Biology](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/foundations/foundation-models.html)
- [Evaluation Principles for Life Sciences AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/foundations/evaluation-principles.html)
- [Protein Structure Prediction](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/molecular/protein-structure.html)
- [Protein Design and Engineering](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/molecular/protein-design.html)
- [Antibody and Biologic Design](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/molecular/antibodies.html)
- [Nucleic Acid and Genome Models](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/molecular/genome-models.html)
- [Variant Effect Prediction](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/molecular/variant-effects.html)
- [Single-Cell Foundation Models](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/single-cell-models.html)
- [Spatial Omics and Tissue Models](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/spatial-omics.html)
- [Cell Painting and Image-Based Phenotyping](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/cell-painting.html)
- [Histopathology AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/histopathology.html)
- [Microscopy and Cryo-EM AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/microscopy-cryo-em.html)
- [Perturbation Prediction and Virtual Cells](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/virtual-cells.html)
- [Microbiome and Multi-Omics AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/multiomics.html)
- [Systems Biology and Multiscale Modeling](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/cells/systems-biology.html)
- [Neuroscience AI and Brain Foundation Models](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/organisms/neuroscience-ai.html)
- [Aging and Longevity Biology AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/organisms/aging-longevity.html)
- [Plant, Crop, and Agricultural AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/organisms/agriculture-ai.html)
- [Environmental and Ecological AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/organisms/environmental-ecology-ai.html)
- [Virtual Organisms and Digital Biology](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/organisms/virtual-organisms.html)
- [Target Identification and Prioritization](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/targets.html)
- [Small Molecule Generation and ADMET](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/small-molecules.html)
- [Chemical Biology and Target Engagement](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/chemical-biology.html)
- [Drug Repurposing and Combination Therapy](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/repurposing-combinations.html)
- [mRNA, RNA, and Vaccine Design](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/vaccines.html)
- [Cell and Gene Therapy AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/cell-gene-therapy.html)
- [Diagnostics and Biomarker Translation](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/diagnostics-biomarkers.html)
- [Clinical Trial AI for Translational Research](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/clinical-trials.html)
- [Real-World Evidence and Biomarker AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/real-world-evidence.html)
- [Translational Evidence and Failure Modes](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/therapeutics/translation-failures.html)
- [Self-Driving Laboratories](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/automation/self-driving-labs.html)
- [Robotic Lab Automation and Cloud Labs](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/automation/cloud-labs.html)
- [Synthetic Biology Design Tools](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/automation/synbio-tools.html)
- [AI for Biomanufacturing](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/automation/biomanufacturing.html)
- [Agentic Science Workflows](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/automation/agentic-workflows.html)
- [Toolkit for AI-Augmented Bio Research](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/practical/toolkit.html)
- [Benchmarks for Bio AI](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/governance/benchmarks.html)
- [Reproducibility and Open Science](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/governance/reproducibility.html)
- [Information Hazards in Capability Research](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/governance/information-hazards.html)
- [Workforce, Compute, and Institutional Readiness](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/governance/workforce-compute.html)
- [Emerging Frontiers in AI for the Life Sciences](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/future/emerging.html)
- [Quick Reference: All Chapter Summaries](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/appendices/tldr-compilation.html)
- [Case Studies](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/appendices/case-studies.html)
- [Glossary](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/appendices/glossary.html)
- [Model and Dataset Index](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/appendices/model-dataset-index.html)
- [References](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/references.html)
- [How to Cite](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/how-to-cite.html)

## Reference Surfaces

- Use the Glossary for definitions of biology, AI, translational research, and governance terms used across the handbook.
- Use the Model and Dataset Index for named models, datasets, benchmarks, infrastructure, evidence tier, and primary source links.
- Use the Quick Reference for short chapter summaries when a reader needs the main point before reading a full chapter.
- Use the Executive Summary for the field map: foundations, molecular discovery, cells and systems, organisms and environment, therapeutics, and research systems.
- Use Evaluation Principles and Translational Evidence and Failure Modes when judging whether a reported AI result should change experimental or program decisions.
- Use How to Cite for citation formats, chapter-level attribution, license terms, and dated citation guidance.

## Citation

Tegomoh, B. (2026). The Life Sciences AI Handbook: Steering Frontier Models in Biology. DOI pending. [Canonical URL](https://lifesciencesaihandbook.com/)

## License

CC BY 4.0