Researchers mined bacterial and archaeal metagenomes to identify self‑priming retrons that function as DNA donors and adapted several as programmable gene editors compatible with CRISPR systems. The discovery paper reports screening, initial in‑cell testing and early optimization paths for retron editors, positioning them as a modular route to install longer edits without double‑strand breaks. Complementary work describes engineering retron‑based editors capable of correcting larger genomic stretches, expanding the toolkit for disorders that require multi‑base changes. Authors highlight retrons’ potential for multiplexed and scarless repair, while noting optimization is needed for efficiency and in vivo delivery.