To Transformers and Beyond: Large Language Models for the Genome
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Abstract (arXiv)
In the rapidly evolving landscape of genomics, deep learning has emerged as a useful tool for tackling complex computational challenges. This review focuses on the transformative role of Large Language Models (LLMs), which are mostly based on the transformer architecture, in genomics. Building on the foundation of traditional convolutional neural networks and recurrent neural networks, we explore both the strengths and limitations of transformers and other LLMs for genomics. Additionally, we contemplate the future of genomic modeling beyond the transformer architecture based on current trends in research. The paper aims to serve as a guide for computational biologists and computer scientists interested in LLMs for genomic data. We hope the paper can also serve as an educational introduction and discussion for biologists to a fundamental shift in how we will be analyzing genomic data in the future.
Key facts. Cited by 15 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 38 of its 129 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 13 Nov 2023.
Builds on
38 of 129 references.
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26 more
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Citing papers per year: 2024: 8; 2025: 7.
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- 2024Scientific Large Language Models: A Survey on Biological & Chemical Domainscited by 80
- 2024Large Language Models in Drug Discovery and Development: From Disease Mechanisms to Clinical Trialscited by 24
- 2024Combining Knowledge Graphs and Large Language Modelscited by 16
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- 2025LLM Security: Vulnerabilities, Attacks, Defenses, and Countermeasurescited by 8
- 2025Computational Protein Science in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)cited by 6
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- 2025Hyperbolic Genome Embeddingscited by 3
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- 2024Whole Genome Transformer for Gene Interaction Effects in Microbiome Habitat Specificitycited by 1
- 2024Assessing Foundation Models' Transferability to Physiological Signals in Precision Medicinecited by 1
- 2025Fractal Language Modelling by Universal Sequence Maps (USM)8 Aug 2025
- 2025Hyperbolic Genome Embeddings29 Jul 2025
- 2025JanusDNA: A Powerful Bi-directional Hybrid DNA Foundation Model22 May 2025
- 2025LLM Security: Vulnerabilities, Attacks, Defenses, and Countermeasures2 May 2025
- 2025Gene42: Long-Range Genomic Foundation Model With Dense Attention20 Mar 2025
- 2025Language modelling techniques for analysing the impact of human genetic variation7 Mar 2025
- 2025Computational Protein Science in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)17 Jan 2025
- 2024BarcodeMamba: State Space Models for Biodiversity Analysis15 Dec 2024
- 2024Assessing Foundation Models' Transferability to Physiological Signals in Precision Medicine4 Dec 2024
- 2024Large Language Models in Drug Discovery and Development: From Disease Mechanisms to Clinical Trials6 Sep 2024
- 2024Unlocking Efficiency: Adaptive Masking for Gene Transformer Models13 Aug 2024
- 2024Combining Knowledge Graphs and Large Language Models9 Jul 2024
- 2024BarcodeMamba: State Space Models for Biodiversity Analysis15 Dec 2024
- 2024Scientific Large Language Models: A Survey on Biological & Chemical Domainscited by 80
- 2024Large Language Models in Drug Discovery and Development: From Disease Mechanisms to Clinical Trialscited by 24
- 2024Combining Knowledge Graphs and Large Language Modelscited by 16
- 2024Large Language Models in Plant Biologycited by 8
- 2025LLM Security: Vulnerabilities, Attacks, Defenses, and Countermeasurescited by 8
- 2025Computational Protein Science in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)cited by 6
- 2025Hyperbolic Genome Embeddingscited by 3
- 2024Unlocking Efficiency: Adaptive Masking for Gene Transformer Modelscited by 2
- 2024Whole Genome Transformer for Gene Interaction Effects in Microbiome Habitat Specificitycited by 1
- 2024Assessing Foundation Models' Transferability to Physiological Signals in Precision Medicinecited by 1
- 2025Gene42: Long-Range Genomic Foundation Model With Dense Attentioncited by 1
- 2025Language modelling techniques for analysing the impact of human genetic variationcited by 0
12 most cited of 13 All 13 (JSON)
- 2025Fractal Language Modelling by Universal Sequence Maps (USM)8 Aug 2025
- 2025Hyperbolic Genome Embeddings29 Jul 2025
- 2025LLM Security: Vulnerabilities, Attacks, Defenses, and Countermeasures2 May 2025
- 2025Gene42: Long-Range Genomic Foundation Model With Dense Attention20 Mar 2025
- 2025Language modelling techniques for analysing the impact of human genetic variation7 Mar 2025
- 2025Computational Protein Science in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)17 Jan 2025
- 2024Assessing Foundation Models' Transferability to Physiological Signals in Precision Medicine4 Dec 2024
- 2024Large Language Models in Drug Discovery and Development: From Disease Mechanisms to Clinical Trials6 Sep 2024
- 2024Unlocking Efficiency: Adaptive Masking for Gene Transformer Models13 Aug 2024
- 2024Combining Knowledge Graphs and Large Language Models9 Jul 2024
- 2024Whole Genome Transformer for Gene Interaction Effects in Microbiome Habitat Specificity9 May 2024
- 2024Scientific Large Language Models: A Survey on Biological & Chemical Domains26 Jan 2024
12 newest of 13 All 13 (JSON)