Extended Data Fig. 10: The in silico evolution of promoters is most effective in early rounds.

a,b, 150 native and 160 synthetic promoters were subjected to 10 rounds of in silico evolution and the strength of the evolved promoters was predicted with the tobacco model (a) or the maize model (b). The black line represents the median promoter strength after each round. c,d, Correlation (Pearson’s R2 and Spearman’s ρ) between the predicted and experimentally determined strength of promoters after 0, 3, or 10 rounds of in silico evolution. Promoter strengths measured in tobacco leaves were compared to predictions from the tobacco model (c) and the data from maize protoplasts was compared to the predictions from the maize model (d). The models used for the in silico evolution are indicated on each plot.