Anthropic: Claude found CRISPR-like ART system, scientists debate novelty

Claude scanned about 200,000 reverse transcriptase samples in 21 hours and identified a previously uncharacterized ART system in a bacteriophage. MIT's Feng Zhang called the finding intriguing, but a Copenhagen biologist says the same systems have been studied since 2022.

• Claude scanned about 200,000 reverse transcriptase samples in 21 hours
• The ART system pairs a reverse transcriptase with a repeat array, similar to CRISPR
• MIT's Feng Zhang called the finding intriguing and worth further study
• A Copenhagen biologist says the same systems were found back in 2022