Anthropic's Claude AI finds unknown enzyme system ART
Discovery by US startup's AI model could represent a new gene editing mechanism, researchers say.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
![The Claude logo is seen in an illustration created on June 5, 2026 [File: Dado Ruvic/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-06-05T185337Z_1549778064_RC2UNLA81928_RTRMADP_3_ANTHROPIC-AI-1790213605_a0a451-1790220375.jpg?resize=1200%2C630&quality=80)
The Claude logo is seen in an illustration created on June 5, 2026 [File: Dado Ruvic/Reuters]
Photograph: Al Jazeera (embedded from source)
What this story says
- US artificial intelligence company Anthropic announced its AI model Claude has identified a previously unknown enzyme system, dubbed ART, in bacterial DNA.
- Anthropic stated its AI agents searched DNA sequences for 21 hours, finding over 200,000 genes and identifying 20 for further examination.
- The newly identified ART system has an unknown function, but initial experiments suggest it could be programmable, similar to CRISPR.
- Feng Zhang, a CRISPR pioneer, called the discovery "genuinely intriguing" and said it "merits further investigation."
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 32 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 44 of the 76 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
58/100
Craft
68/100
Hype
48/100
76 sources · methodology
US artificial intelligence startup Anthropic announced on Wednesday the discovery of a previously unknown enzyme system spotted by its AI model Claude. The company stated this is the first discovery from its molecular biology lab and suggested it could represent a new gene editing mechanism. Anthropic's AI agents reportedly combed through DNA sequences for 21 hours, identifying more than 200,000 genes and selecting 20 for closer examination. This process, according to Anthropic, would take human scientists weeks or months.
The newly identified system, which Anthropic has dubbed ART, was found in viruses that infect bacteria. While its exact function remains unknown, initial experiments suggest ART could be programmable, a characteristic shared with the gene-editing technology CRISPR. The findings have been published as a preprint and have not yet undergone peer review. Feng Zhang, a pioneer in CRISPR technology, described the identification of the repeated DNA fragments as "genuinely intriguing" and stated it "merits further investigation."
Disagreement on scientific significance
Al Jazeera reported that Kevin Blake, a microbiologist, expressed skepticism regarding the scientific significance of the discovery. Blake stated there is nothing to indicate that ART is a rival to CRISPR-the-technology, distinguishing between the natural CRISPR system in bacteria and the gene-editing tool developed by scientists. Other reports, such as those from El Mundo and abc, noted that it is not a 'new CRISPR' and its usefulness for editing DNA has not yet been demonstrated.
Omissions in coverage
None of the right-rated reports below mention the specific detail that Anthropic's AI agents identified over 200,000 genes and picked out 20 for closer examination. The left-rated reports also do not mention this specific figure.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 5 times, most recently on 24 Sept 2026, 15:30, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
6 rated outlets
- Left-rated reports highlighted Anthropic's announcement of the discovery of a new enzyme system by its Claude AI model. Al Jazeera noted the system could "represent a new gene editing mechanism" similar to CRISPR and quoted CEO Dario Amodei suggesting AI could lead to medical breakthroughs. IBTimes UK reported that Claude found a "Hidden DNA System With CRISPR-Like Features That Could Cut, Copy and Paste Genetic Material." IndexHR stated the discovery was the "First Major Discovery in Biology" by Anthropic's lab.
Centre
11 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports focused on Anthropic's announcement of the discovery of a novel enzyme system with AI assistance. Hindustan Times reported that the Claude model spotted the system, which Anthropic touted as proof AI can speed up basic research. Quartz mentioned the AI model ran for 21 hours across nearly 1,000 agent sessions before flagging the system. Reuters stated Claude AI "helped discover novel enzyme system" with properties reminiscent of CRISPR. France24 framed the discovery around "What Did Claude Find in the Biology Finding and Why Is It Important?"
Right
15 rated outlets
- Right-rated reports led with Anthropic's announcement of a new enzyme system discovered by its AI, often noting its similarity to CRISPR. El Mundo reported the AI discovered a "New Enzyme System so Far Unknown and Similar to the Genetic Clip-Stick." The Straits Times stated Anthropic AI discovers new enzyme system in biology, potentially linked to gene editing. India Today reported Claude AI discovers new CRISPR-like gene editing system, Anthropic says, adding the finding could point to a new tool for gene editing. CNBC-TV18 highlighted that the discovery "hints at gene-editing breakthrough."
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Anthropic's Claude AI finds unknown enzyme system ART?
- Of the 32 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 19% are rated left, 34% are rated centre, 47% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 76. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Anthropic's Claude AI finds unknown enzyme system ART left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 32 rated outlets on this story, 19% are rated left, 34% are rated centre, 47% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Anthropic's Claude AI finds unknown enzyme system ART biased?
- Anthropic's Claude AI finds unknown enzyme system ART is one event reported by 76 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Anthropic's Claude AI finds unknown enzyme system ART?
- 76 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What did Anthropic's AI model Claude discover?
- Anthropic announced that its AI model Claude has identified a previously unknown enzyme system, which the company has named ART. This discovery was made in the DNA of viruses that infect bacteria and is the first from Anthropic's molecular biology lab.
- What is the significance of the ART enzyme system?
- The exact function of the ART system is currently unknown. However, initial experiments suggest it could be programmable, similar to the gene-editing technology CRISPR. Researchers are investigating its potential as a new gene editing mechanism.
- How long did the AI take to find this system?
- Anthropic stated that its AI agents searched through DNA sequences for 21 hours to identify the ART enzyme system. The company suggested this automated process significantly speeds up basic research compared to traditional human scientific methods.
- Is this discovery a new CRISPR?
- While the ART system shares some characteristics with CRISPR, such as potential programmability, its scientific significance and practical applications are still under investigation. Some experts have expressed skepticism about it being a direct rival to CRISPR-the-technology.
Read it at the source
76 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
6- Anthropic says Claude has found something potentially transformative in our bodies (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic says Claude has found something potentially transformative in our bodies (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude Finds Hidden DNA System With CRISPR-Like Features That Could Cut, Copy and Paste Genetic Material (opens IBTimes UK in a new tab)
IBTimes UK — is IBTimes UK biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AI Discovered What Humans Didn't: Anthropic Announces First Major Discovery in Biology (opens IndexHR in a new tab)
- AI model Claude discovers CRISPR-like enzyme system, Anthropic says (opens Al Jazeera in a new tab)
Al Jazeera — is Al Jazeera biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic’s biolab made a discovery it’s comparing to Crispr (opens The Verge in a new tab)
Centre
11- From Anthropic AIA a System of Enzymes Never Seen VIDEO (opens ANSA in a new tab)
- Anthropic's Claude AI discovers CRISPR-like enzyme system (opens Quartz in a new tab)
- An AI model has found a new ‘CRISPR-like’ biological system. Here’s what it means for science (opens The Conversation in a new tab)
The Conversation — is The Conversation biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic says Claude AI helped discover novel enzyme system (opens Reuters in a new tab)
- Anthropic touts AI-led biology discovery (opens Phys.org in a new tab)
- Anthropic Announced the First Opening of Its biolaboratory: (opens ZN.UA Зеркало недели in a new tab)
ZN.UA Зеркало недели — is ZN.UA Зеркало недели biased? Our profile of this outlet
- IA. Unknown Enzymes: Anthropic Unveils a First Result of His Biology Laboratory (opens leprogres.fr in a new tab)
leprogres.fr — is leprogres.fr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- IA. Unknown Enzymes: Anthropic Unveils a First Result of His Biology Laboratory (opens ledauphine.com in a new tab)
ledauphine.com — is ledauphine.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 3 more
- Anthropic unveils discovery of new enzyme system spotted by Claude model (opens Hindustan Times in a new tab)
Hindustan Times — is Hindustan Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- What Did Claude Find in the Biology Finding and Why Is It Important? (opens France24 in a new tab)
- Anthropic says its biology lab has already found something big (opens TechCrunch in a new tab)
TechCrunch — is TechCrunch biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
15- Anthropic says Claude discovered novel enzyme system (opens Anadolu Ajansı in a new tab)
Anadolu Ajansı — is Anadolu Ajansı biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic Announces that AI Has Discovered a New Enzyme System so Far Unknown and Similar to the Genetic Clip-Stick (opens El Mundo in a new tab)
- Anthropic Warned AI Could Kill Us All. Then Claude Found a CRISPR-Like Enzyme System in 21 Hours. (opens RedState in a new tab)
- Anthropic claims Claude discovered new DNA-editing system in bacterial viruses (opens Firstpost News in a new tab)
Firstpost News — is Firstpost News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic Announces that Its AI Has Discovered a New Biological System Similar to Crispr (opens ABC in a new tab)
- Anthropic touts AI-led biology discovery (opens ARY News in a new tab)
- Anthropic AI discovers new enzyme system in biology (opens The Straits Times in a new tab)
The Straits Times — is The Straits Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude AI discovers new CRISPR-like gene editing system, Anthropic says (opens India Today in a new tab)
India Today — is India Today biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 7 more
- Anthropic AI discovers new enzyme system, hints at gene-editing breakthrough (opens CNBC-TV18 in a new tab)
- Anthropic's Claude Makes Biomedical Breakthrough Discovers Novel Enzyme System (opens Latestly in a new tab)
- Anthropics Claude makes biomedical breakthrough discovers novel enzyme system - The Tribune (opens Tribune India in a new tab)
Tribune India — is Tribune India biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic's Claude makes biomedical breakthrough, discovers novel enzyme system (opens aninews.in in a new tab)
aninews.in — is aninews.in biased? Our profile of this outlet
- An AI Went Looking Through DNA and Found Something Humans Had Missed (opens PJ Media in a new tab)
- Anthropic Says Claude AI Helped Discover Novel Enzyme System (opens NDTV in a new tab)
- Anthropic Presents the First Discovery Made by AI in Its Biological Laboratory (opens Globo in a new tab)
Not rated
44- Anthropic May Have Discovered a New Way to Modify Genes: This Is What Claude Found in Just 21 Hours (opens Journal du Geek in a new tab)
Journal du Geek — is Journal du Geek biased? Our profile of this outlet
- In 21 Hours and Almost without Human Intervention: an AI Discovered a Mechanism that Could Be Used to Edit DNA (opens rionegro.com.ar in a new tab)
rionegro.com.ar — is rionegro.com.ar biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AI Model Claude Flags Unexplained DNA Enzyme, Company Admits It Doesn't Know What It Does (opens Northeast Times in a new tab)
Northeast Times — is Northeast Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- 950 Anthropic AI Agents Put to Work in the Lab – Made a Scientific Breakthrough in Just 21 Hours (opens Tärkeimmät talousuutiset | Kauppalehti… in a new tab)
- A Revolution in Artificial Intelligence in Science: Claude Enabled the Discovery of a New Enzyme System. (opens Karar Gazetesi in a new tab)
Karar Gazetesi — is Karar Gazetesi biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic, Claude Discovers a New Genetic Editing System (opens Fortune Italia in a new tab)
Fortune Italia — is Fortune Italia biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude Would Have Discovered a DNA Secret, and No One Knows What It's For. (opens 01net in a new tab)
- Anthropic Uses AI to Make Biological Discoveries (opens EL NACIONAL in a new tab)
EL NACIONAL — is EL NACIONAL biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 36 more
- Claude Finds Hidden Enzyme System in Viral DNA: CRISPR Pioneer Calls It Intriguing (opens Tech Times in a new tab)
Tech Times — is Tech Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude Discovers New Enzyme System Similar to CRISPR (opens diariomedico.com in a new tab)
diariomedico.com — is diariomedico.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic Says Claude Discovered a Novel CRISPR-Like Enzyme System (opens Compsmag in a new tab)
- Anthropic Biolaborator Made the First Discovery Using Claude (opens dev.by in a new tab)
- Anthropic: Claude May Have Made a Major Biological Discovery (opens computersweden.se in a new tab)
computersweden.se — is computersweden.se biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic Announces that Claude Contributes to the Discovery of New Enzyme Systems with 950 Agents (opens Haberler in a new tab)
- After Analysis of DNA Databases: Claude Is Said to Have Discovered New Enzyme System (opens Heise in a new tab)
- IA: Claude (Anthropic) Would Have Helped Discover a New and New Enzyme System (opens Clubic.com in a new tab)
Clubic.com — is Clubic.com biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- AI model Claude discovers CRISPR-like enzyme system, Anthropic says (opens BizToc in a new tab)
- Anthropic, Claude Discovers a New Enzyme (opens Punto Informatico in a new tab)
Punto Informatico — is Punto Informatico biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude agents flag a CRISPR-like enzyme system in 21 hours, though Anthropic can't yet say what it does (opens Cryptopolitan in a new tab)
Cryptopolitan — is Cryptopolitan biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic Claims to Have Discovered a New Enzyme System Called Clod AI; 950 Clod Agents Behind It (opens Mathrubhumi in a new tab)
Mathrubhumi — is Mathrubhumi biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Comparison with Crispr: Anthropic Agent to Have Independently Discovered New Enzyme System (opens t3nMagazin in a new tab)
t3nMagazin — is t3nMagazin biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude discovers a novel enzyme system (opens anthropic.com in a new tab)
anthropic.com — is anthropic.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The AI Claude d'Anthropic Reveals an Unknown Enzyme System (opens Génération-NT in a new tab)
Génération-NT — is Génération-NT biased? Our profile of this outlet
- According to Anthropic, Claude Participated in the Discovery of a New Enzyme System. (opens Forbes Georgia in a new tab)
Forbes Georgia — is Forbes Georgia biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The Detective in the Haystack: so an Artificial Intelligence Found a Life Machine that No One Had Ever Noticed (opens Quotidiano Nazionale in a new tab)
Quotidiano Nazionale — is Quotidiano Nazionale biased? Our profile of this outlet
- A New CRISPR ? IA Claude Discovers a New System that Could Also Modify the Genes of Living Beings (opens Presse-citron in a new tab)
Presse-citron — is Presse-citron biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude Just Identified Previously Unknown DNA Repeat System (opens TechJuice in a new tab)
- Anthropic Announced that the Claude Model Discovered a New Enzyme System (opens Naftemporiki in a new tab)
Naftemporiki — is Naftemporiki biased? Our profile of this outlet
- An AI model has found a new ‘CRISPR-like’ biological system. Here’s what it means for science (opens MASSIVE.NEWS in a new tab)
MASSIVE.NEWS — is MASSIVE.NEWS biased? Our profile of this outlet
- IA. Unknown Enzymes: Anthropic Unveils a First Result of His Biology Laboratory (opens lejsl.com in a new tab)
- IA. Unknown Enzymes: Anthropic Unveils a First Result of His Biology Laboratory (opens vosgesmatin.fr in a new tab)
vosgesmatin.fr — is vosgesmatin.fr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- IA. Unknown Enzymes: Anthropic Unveils a First Result of His Biology Laboratory (opens republicain-lorrain.fr in a new tab)
republicain-lorrain.fr — is republicain-lorrain.fr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- IA. Unknown Enzymes: Anthropic Unveils a First Result of His Biology Laboratory (opens bienpublic.com in a new tab)
bienpublic.com — is bienpublic.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- IA. Unknown Enzymes: Anthropic Unveils a First Result of His Biology Laboratory (opens estrepublicain.fr in a new tab)
estrepublicain.fr — is estrepublicain.fr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude Would Have Made an Incredible Scientific Discovery: ART, a Possible Cousin of CRISPR in Viruses (opens FrAndroid in a new tab)
FrAndroid — is FrAndroid biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Anthropic Has Its Own Laboratory. Claude Helped Discover a New Enzyme System (opens StartItUp.sk in a new tab)
StartItUp.sk — is StartItUp.sk biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic's AI Has Already Discovered a New CRISPR-Like Biological Mechanism! (opens techgear.gr in a new tab)
techgear.gr — is techgear.gr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude Scanned DNA with 950 Agents in 21 Hours: He Found a Previously Unidentified System - Dünya Gazeti (opens dunya.com in a new tab)
- Anthropic Claims to Have Made a New Discovery Using AI; Confirms Existence of Biology Research Lab (opens Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd in a new tab)
Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd — is Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic's Claude Discovers New Enzyme System That Could Rewrite The Future Of Gene Editing: Here's Why It's A Big Deal (opens The Free Press Journal in a new tab)
The Free Press Journal — is The Free Press Journal biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Claude Uncovers CRISPR Like Previously Unknown Enzyme System Hidden in Bacteriophages (opens NDTV Profit in a new tab)
NDTV Profit — is NDTV Profit biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic's Claude Found a New Enzyme System That Looks Like CRISPR (opens Startup Fortune in a new tab)
Startup Fortune — is Startup Fortune biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Anthropic Claims Claude Uncovered a Brand-New Enzyme System Inside Virus DNA (opens Android Headlines in a new tab)
Android Headlines — is Android Headlines biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Claude AI Discovers Novel Enzyme System with CRISPR-Like Features (opens Cryptocurrency News in a new tab)
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