Anthropic reported that its AI model, Claude, identified a previously unknown enzyme system in bacteriophage DNA, which researchers had previously overlooked. The discovery, announced on September 23, 2026, involves a system named array-associated reverse transcriptases (ART).
The search process involved approximately 950 Claude agents processing a massive DNA database over 21 hours. Using 210 million tokens, the agents identified over 200,000 reverse transcriptases and selected 3,500 candidates, eventually narrowing the list to 20 for human review.
The ART system consists of a reverse transcriptase enzyme, a partner protein, and a long array of repeating DNA sequences. Initial lab experiments at Anthropic’s Bay Area facility confirmed that the repeat array is converted into distinct short RNAs, a process similar to the CRISPR mechanism.
While CEO Dario Amodei suggests ART could potentially function as a new gene-editing mechanism, its specific biological role remains unknown. Experts like Kevin Blake of Washington University have expressed skepticism regarding its immediate practical or therapeutic application compared to established CRISPR technology.
