Claude finds CRISPR-like enzyme system, Anthropic says

Anthropic said Claude autonomously discovered a new enzyme system in bacterial DNA that could represent a gene-editing mechanism similar to CRISPR. Researchers at the company’s biology research lab in San Francisco prompted the work, and Claude identified the system after spending 21 hours searching a large database of DNA sequences. Anthropic said the system showed traits seen in only a small number of programmable structures and displayed a pattern reminiscent of CRISPR, though its function has not been determined.

CEO Dario Amodei said the company suspects the molecular machine could represent a new gene editing mechanism and described AI-enabled biological discovery as being at a very early stage. Amodei has claimed AI could cure most diseases within five to 10 years. Stanford bioengineering professor Stanley Qi called the reported discovery incredibly exciting, saying AI could help researchers explore complex biological patterns more quickly.

Other scientists urged caution. Kevin Blake, a microbiologist at Washington University School of Medicine, said CRISPR-like sequences are already known to be widespread and that nothing so far indicates the system could rival CRISPR technology or lead to a therapeutic or practical application.