CRISPR
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a family of DNA sequences found within the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea. These sequences are derived from DNA fragments of bacteriophages that had previously infected the prokaryote and are used to detect and destroy DNA from similar bacteriophages during subsequent infections.
Core Mechanism
- Adaptive Immunity: Allows bacteria to remember and fight off previous viral infections.
- Cas Enzymes: Proteins (e.g., Cas9) that act as molecular scissors to cut DNA at specific locations guided by RNA.
- Gene Editing: Enables precise modifications to the genome of living organisms.
Recent Developments (2026)
- AI-Driven Discovery: In September 2026, Anthropic’s claude AI identified a novel enzyme system distinct from traditional CRISPR-Cas mechanisms.
- ART System: Discovery of Array-associated Reverse Transcriptase (ART), a novel CRISPR-like system. This finding is detailed in Claude AI Discovers Novel CRISPR-like System, Array-associated Reverse Transcriptase (ART).
- Implications: The identification of ART expands the known repertoire of prokaryotic adaptive immunity and suggests new avenues for biotechnology and gene-editing tools beyond standard Cas9 applications.