bacteria use a molecular scalpel

Examples of metaphor in popular science writing:

""[Francisco] Mojica made a bold and untested hypothesis – that this palindrome-space system is a bacterial weapon against viruses."

"…this system evolved in an arms race with viruses. Viruses attack bacteria as well as humans, We fend most of them off with our immune system. This bacterial mechanism …uses a molecular guide and scalpel: the palindromes help form the guides that bring a molecular scalpel to cut the viral DNA to render it harmless."

Neil Shubin

Shubin, N. (2020). Some Assembly Required. Decoding four billion years of life, from ancient fossils to DNA. Oneworld Publications.