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Gene drive: progress and prospects.

  • Wedell N Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK.
  • Price TAR Institution for Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
  • Lindholm AK Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
  • 2019-12-19
Published in:
  • Proceedings. Biological sciences. - 2019
Wolbachia
genetic management
invasive species
population control
synthetic biology
vector control
Aedes
Animals
Biological Evolution
Culicidae
Dengue
Disease Vectors
Gene Drive Technology
Mosquito Vectors
Reproduction
Wolbachia
Zika Virus
Zika Virus Infection
English Gene drive is a naturally occurring phenomenon in which selfish genetic elements manipulate gametogenesis and reproduction to increase their own transmission to the next generation. Currently, there is great excitement about the potential of harnessing such systems to control major pest and vector populations. If synthetic gene drive systems can be constructed and applied to key species, they may be able to rapidly spread either modifying or eliminating the targeted populations. This approach has been lauded as a revolutionary and efficient mechanism to control insect-borne diseases and crop pests. Driving endosymbionts have already been deployed to combat the transmission of dengue and Zika virus in mosquitoes. However, there are a variety of barriers to successfully implementing gene drive techniques in wild populations. There is a risk that targeted organisms will rapidly evolve an ability to suppress the synthetic drive system, rendering it ineffective. There are also potential risks of synthetic gene drivers invading non-target species or populations. This Special Feature covers the current state of affairs regarding both natural and synthetic gene drive systems with the aim to identify knowledge gaps. By understanding how natural drive systems spread through populations, we may be able to better predict the outcomes of synthetic drive release.
Language
  • English
Open access status
bronze
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Persistent URL
https://sonar.ch/global/documents/153016
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