Wes Roth · 2026-09-24 · notable
Wes Roth — 'Claude JUST found hidden DNA...'
Wes Roth walks through ART, the enzyme system with CRISPR-like repeats that Anthropic says Claude agents found. About 950 agents searched DNA databases for 21 hours before researchers followed up on the pattern.
Wes Roth on how Claude agents found a new enzyme system, and what it might mean for the pace of science.
What is it?
'Claude JUST found hidden DNA...' went up on Wes Roth's channel on 24 September 2026, the day after Anthropic announced ART (array-associated reverse transcriptases). Anthropic describes ART as a system found in bacteriophages: a reverse transcriptase, an accompanying gene, and repeating DNA arranged like a CRISPR array.
How does it work?
Anthropic says about 950 Claude agents spent 21 hours and 210 million tokens searching sequence databases. The agents narrowed more than 200,000 reverse transcriptases to 3,500 candidates, then to the 20 most promising, and one agent spotted the repeat pattern next to an unusual enzyme. Wes Roth's chapters also cover the tools and reasoning the agents used and the cost of the discovery.
Why does it matter?
ART's function is still unknown, but early experiments suggest the array produces distinct short RNAs, hinting at a programmable role like CRISPR. The video frames the search method, not just the enzyme, as the bigger story for AI-driven science.
Who is it for?
people following AI for science