A Nature Biotechnology study and accompanying reports described the discovery and engineering of bacterial retrons as a scalable route to produce multicopy single‑stranded DNA templates inside cells, enabling precise genome insertions without double‑strand breaks. Researchers used metagenomic screens to identify retron reverse transcriptases and demonstrated engineered systems for efficient, programmable DNA replacement. The approach promises to expand the scope of precise editing beyond small edits by supplying intracellular single‑stranded donors and may simplify therapeutic gene insertion strategies. Lab teams reported mutations and device designs that enhance activity and specificity across model systems. Authors and commentators framed retron‑based systems as an emerging platform with clear translational potential for correcting complex genetic disorders, but noted additional work is required to optimize activity in human cells and to assess delivery strategies for in vivo therapy.