GeneWhisperer: Enhancing manual genome annotation with large language models

Abstract

Genome annotation is critical for understanding functional elements within genomes. Manual curation is a common practice for identifying the functions of genes, particularly those missed by automated annotation pipelines. However, this process is notoriously labour-intensive and time-consuming. In response to these challenges, we present GeneWhisperer, an innovative assistant system designed to facilitate the manual gene functional annotation process. Utilizing a large language model (LLM) agent, GeneWhisperer provides users access to tools appropriate for specific curation tasks in genome annotation. Featuring a conversational interface, GeneWhisperer fosters effective collaboration between human experts and AI. By synergizing the capabilities of AI with human expertise, GeneWhisperer offers a promising approach to advancing our understanding of gene functions and streamlining the gene annotation process.