DNA Can Be Built in a Way We've Never Seen Before, Study Finds

Stanford researchers found that a polymerase in the bacterial DRT3 system can synthesize DNA without an external template.

The enzyme appears to use its own protein shape as a blueprint, revealing a previously unknown protein-templated way to make DNA.

In E. coli, the team identified Drt3a, Drt3b, and non-coding RNA as key parts of the system.

The discovery could reshape understanding of bacterial defense and evolution, and may inspire new biotech tools.