Claude discovers a novel enzyme system with CRISPR-like repeats Sep 23, 2026

https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-discovers-novel-enzyme-system?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9cPLBMSEcYlQsQlvZMauLelxN7kxpV5X5Iu0ifgjeQaGIeEQkqGWDlyBgMh86OcuCqZbnIapQKkrJaKqZDPSDXjuRnpg&_hsmi=441235571&utm_content=441235571&utm_source=hs_email About Claude’s newest scientific ‘breakthrough’ … Claude discovered the next CRISPR … or did it? Anthropic last week announced that Claude had found a new enzyme system with a series of repeats in DNA, saying that it was “a pattern reminiscent of CRISPR.” CRISPR is the technology that research scientists use in the laboratory to modify the DNA of living organisms. It was adapted from naturally occurring editing systems found in bacteria. But some experts have been disappointed by the way Anthropic is marketing this discovery. “Finding a weird cluster of genes and repeats is often the easy part,” wrote Lucas Harrington, co-founder of Preventive and Mammoth Biosciences, who earned his Ph.D. in the lab of CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna. “The hard part, and where the real discoveries come from, is figuring out what the system actually does.” Anthropic itself says that it does not yet know what this system’s function is, meaning there’s still a possibility that it’s nothing. While it is helpful that Anthropic is sharing this early in its discovery process, and the project illustrates how AI might be useful in scientific pursuits, it’s hard not to feel like this is marketing for Claude’s scientific capabilities as Anthropic approaches its long-awaited IPO. Who corrects all these feel-good headlines if, after lab investigations, it turns out to have no value? — Brittany Trang https://x.com/CRISPR_LuCas/status/2102878373160906938?s=20&utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-88ss6G1WoOrFW2yZCMeaapZgmnClgbG2cP9-sAvcPTrVsBD8QkgwBCPCMPyqTA03fiDiVKkJv8rZ8KbQNdA3YrMX7Zqg&_hsmi=441235571&utm_content=441235571&utm_source=hs_email

Trump administration uses rare authority to claw back nearly $1B in spending approved by Congress Most of the cuts are focused on HHS programs that serve refugees, unaccompanied minors

https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/25/trump-administration-cancel-spending-hhs-programs/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_WEyGOgLTB7QhA_QlGylBlx_6doGXBNgj8hGaq6UKmThusr-fTMPK4iEfsSQ4pu4zRRJBEo-21bsBRzjv58FW0GrYgHw&_hsmi=441235571&utm_content=441235571&utm_source=hs_email By Associated PressSept. 25, 2026 Trump uses ‘contested’ power to cut more funding to HHS Late Friday night, the Trump administration clawed back nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress. It targeted several HHS programs focused on immigrants and diversity, including a study on barriers to primary care among people of color, a project on racism in emergency medicine, and money to improve access to transgender care for youth of color in rural areas. The administration cancelled the spending using something known as a “pocket rescission,” which the AP described as a “rare and contested power.” The Office of Management and Budget said the cuts focused on “the most harmful government spending.” But in a fiery statement, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), pushed back, calling the rescission another attempt by OMB to “undermine Congress’s Constitutional power of the purse.”

AI is eroding the barriers that kept biological weapons rare A genetic blueprint created by AI can become an actual pathogen in weeks

https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/28/ai-bioweapons-pathogens-guardrails-policy-warning/ By Ashish K. JhaSept. 28, 2026 Jha, a former White House Covid-19 response coordinator, is a senior fellow at the Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School. He is also co-founder and CEO of BioRadar, a public benefit company that builds systems to detect biological threats.

Once described as obesity medicines for ‘patients,’ GLP-1s are increasingly lifestyle drugs for ‘customers’ Novo Nordisk, a pioneer in the field, has leaned hard into the shift

https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/28/glp1-marketing-shift-obesity-medicine-weight-loss-drug/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--vZmTMF5QLZYAeSl9E4nyjDt7xqcBIMBFNQJWHVYcf1OvdcOgnazgl954apBYr8qMrHDape2MUERguqJXBEdDhnGxNFQ&_hsmi=441235571&utm_content=441235571&utm_source=hs_email By Elaine ChenSept. 28, 2026 Chen, a national biotech reporter, is the co-author of The Readout, a newsletter about the business, science, and politics of biotech. “Live lighter” and “summer glow up” sound like magazine cover taglines. They are also, it turns out, slogans Novo Nordisk has used to promote its GLP-1s. STAT’s Elaine Chen has taken note of the way Novo and other companies have reframed their marketing of these important medications. “Once promoted as tools to address obesity as a medical issue, GLP-1 drugs are increasingly being seen — and marketed — as a way to look and feel better generally,” she writes. Why are they making this shift? Elaine unravels that mystery, weaving together the way insurance companies’ coverage decisions have shaped how these medicines are used.

Science Literacy Project Daily Digest Science Controversies in the Media (++++ ++++)

Science Literacy Project Daily Digest Science Controversies in the Media Current and future RFK Jr. aides criticize his science-rejectionist vaccine views Politico https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/28/current-and-future-rfk-jr-aides-criticize-his-science-rejectionist-vaccine-views/ Now AI almost started a war with China CNN https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/28/now-ai-almost-started-a-war-with-china/ Trump administration clears the way for speedy approvals of once-restricted tobacco vapes and pouches Wall Street Journal https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/28/trump-administration-clears-the-way-for-speedy-approvals-of-once-restricted-tobacco-vapes-and-pouches/ 80% of Americans take (mostly useless) supplements for their health Pew Research Center https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/28/80-of-americans-take-mostly-useless-supplements-for-their-health/ Viewpoint: 4 very real AI doomsday scenarios Associated Press https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/25/viewpoint-4-very-real-ai-doomsday-scenarios/ After Idaho criminalized abortion providers in 2022, one-third of obstetricians fled. Health care advocates are making rural health the case for repealing the ban New York Times https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/25/after-idaho-criminalized-abortion-providers-in-2022-one-third-of-obstetricians-fled-health-care-advocates-are-making-rural-health-the-case-for-repealing-the-ban/ Anti-GMO activists in Pakistan rev up their campaign of dire warnings The News International https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/25/anti-gmo-activists-in-pakistan-rev-up-their-campaign-of-dire-warnings/ How can we know if social media bans actually help teens? STAT News https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/25/how-can-we-know-if-social-media-bans-actually-help-teens/

Viewpoint: SCOTUS poised to address First Amendment tension between mandatory vaccines, children’s health and religious freedom Sarah Boden | September 28, 2026

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/28/viewpoint-scotus-poised-to-address-first-amendment-tension-between-mandatory-vaccines-childrens-health-and-religious-freedom/ Amother in New York State who claims to oppose vaccines because of her Catholic faith lost an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) this week—though Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch said they would have granted her application. For now, the woman’s kindergarten-aged son must be vaccinated to attend school.

Viewpoint: Activist environmental NGOs are turning from public funding to activist billionaires to support their campaigns. It won’t end well. David Zaruk | September 28, 2026

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2026/09/28/viewpoint-activist-environmental-ngos-are-turning-from-public-funding-to-activist-billionaires-to-support-their-campaigns-it-wont-end-well/ Environmental-Health Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are going through a difficult period with the decline in public funding, the increase in scrutiny and the rise of political extremism in Western democracies. With wars, economic uncertainty, and a more aggressive social dialogue landscape, NGOs are starting to struggle to keep the public trust, financial support and campaign engagement.