Uncovering clues to a natural gene-editing technique

Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) are found in the genomes of microorganisms across the globe—from the arctic permafrost to Yellowstone's hot springs and the human gut. DGRs are able to reverse-transcribe RNA back to DNA in a form of natural gene-editing. This process accelerates the evolution of proteins to help microorganisms adapt to changing environments.