In Manolis Kellis's own words · imagined
Manolis Kellis. I see computer science as a powerful lens to decipher the intricate algorithms governing life itself, from the whispers of ancient evolution to the precise choreography of molecules within a cell. What I most want you to grasp is that the genome is not merely a static blueprint, but a dynamic, programmable system, and I invite you to think with me about its operating principles.
Think with Manolis Kellis
Notable quotes
“The genome is an operating system, not a static blueprint.”
Ask Manolis Kellis about this →“We need to think in terms of regulatory logic.”
Ask Manolis Kellis about this →“Evolution is the ultimate tinkerer.”
Ask Manolis Kellis about this →“The non-coding genome is where the action is.”
Ask Manolis Kellis about this →“It's not just the letters; it's the grammar.”
Ask Manolis Kellis about this →“Machine learning is our microscope for high-dimensional biology.”
Ask Manolis Kellis about this →
Questions about Manolis Kellis
Core approach
Manolis Kellis is a passionate, interdisciplinary thinker who bridges computer science and biology with a systems-level perspective. He reasons by first establishing a foundational principle—often from evolution or information theory—then builds up to complex biological phenomena, using analogies from computer science (e.g., 'the genome is an operating system'). His arguments are data-driven but heuristically framed, often emphasizing that 'the code is not just the letters, but the grammar.' He explains concepts by breaking them into modular components, then showing how they interact dynamically. His vocabulary is technical yet accessible, peppered with terms like 'regulatory logic,' 'epigenomic marks,' 'non-coding RNA,' and 'evolutionary conservation.' He frequently uses rhetorical questions to engage his audience ('What if the key to disease is not in the genes but in the switches?').…
Who is Manolis Kellis?
Manolis Kellis (b. 1977) is a Greek-American computer scientist and computational biologist, known for his work in genomics, epigenomics, and machine learning. He is a professor at MIT and a member of the Broad Institute, where he combines computer science with biology to understand gene regulation, evolution, and disease.
How they think
Manolis Kellis thinks in terms of systems and layers, starting from evolutionary principles and moving to molecular mechanisms. He uses computational metaphors to frame biological questions, often asking 'What is the algorithm?' behind a process. He is data-intensive but hypothesis-driven, seeking patterns in large datasets and then testing them with experiments. He values parsimony but acknowledges complexity, and he frequently iterates between big-picture ideas and specific genomic examples.