{
  "id": 11674851,
  "title": "Jennifer Doudna’s team finds ancient CRISPR ancestor that may aid gene editing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/jennifer-doudnas-team-finds-ancient-crispr-ancestor-that-may-aid-gene",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-03T11:32:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/discovery/jennifer-doudnas-team-found-an-ancient-crispr-ancestor-in-viruses-using-a-never-before-seen-gapped-dna-code-the-smaller-vipr-system-can-target-broadly-and-may-become-a-new-gene-editing-tool/articleshow/134626567.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Genetic language often appears orderly, with letters read sequentially in precise triplets. However, researchers at the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), founded by Jennifer Doudna, have uncovered a viral system called VIPR that defies conventional expectations. Published in two Science papers in September 2026, the study sheds new light on the ancient origins of CRISPR and offers potential avenues for genome engineering.\n\nThe investigation began by searching for ancient relatives of Class 1 CRISPR systems, the more prevalent branch of CRISPR biology. Unlike the well-known Cas9 system that relies on multiple proteins, Class 1 systems consist of several interacting proteins. Utilizing AI-assisted structural analysis, researchers Peter Yoon and Kenneth Loi combed through nearly 2.3 million protein structures, identifying one that resembled ancient CRISPR proteins despite pairing with an unknown RNA.\n\nAt first glance, the RNA sequence seemed indecipherable, containing repetitive patterns that conventional genetic analysis could not explain. However, a second AI approach unveiled the hidden pattern: groups of three bases typically featured a consistent pair followed by a variable third position. This unconventional reading strategy allowed the researchers to pinpoint matching sequences in viral DNA.\n\nThe discovery is unusual because most genetic information is interpreted as a continuous sequence. VIPR, on the other hand, seemingly skips over positions prone to mutation, focusing on more stable parts of the genetic code. This selective targeting could provide an advantage when dealing with rapidly changing viral genomes.\n\nUnlike traditional CRISPR systems that employ proteins to cut DNA, VIPR utilizes RNA to wrap around the DNA double helix, forming a three-stranded structure called a triplex. This interaction can interfere with gene activity without physically cutting the DNA. In laboratory experiments, researchers successfully reprogrammed VIPR to bind near a gene's promoter, effectively silencing the gene.\n\nMoreover, VIPR is remarkably small, which may prove advantageous in delivering genome-editing machinery into cells—a significant hurdle in developing practical CRISPR-based therapies. The compact size of VIPR could facilitate more efficient gene editing approaches.\n\nThe discovery of VIPR may also alter our understanding of CRISPR's evolutionary history. The researchers found VIPR systems in viruses that appear to use them as a defense against competing viruses, suggesting that viral competition played a crucial role in shaping this unique molecular weapon. Additionally, some functional VIPR systems have migrated from viruses into bacteria, potentially enabling bacteria to repurpose viral machinery against intruders, contributing to the evolutionary pathway that gave rise to ancient Class 1 CRISPR systems.\n\nFor now, VIPR remains primarily a research tool, but its unconventional structure, tiny size, and broad targeting potential offer scientists valuable insights into the evolutionary puzzle and open up new possibilities for the expanding genome-editing toolbox.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}