A Gene Drive Could Wipe Out Mosquitoes. But What If We Want To Turn It Off?
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A. Winkler,
freethink,
2020.
Gene drives are powerful tools: they allow scientists to hack how animals pass down genes to their offspring. They could allow us to wipe out malaria-carrying mosquitoes, preserve endangered species, or fight off crop-eating pests. But once it’s out in the wild, a gene drive can’t be stopped from spreading — and that makes people nervous. If there are unintended consequences, we want to be able to pull the brakes. Now, UC San Diego researchers have developed a new genetic system that would let scientists halt or neutralize gene drives, even after they are released into the wild. The implications could be huge. More related to this: Active Genetic Neutralizing Elements for Halting or Deleting Gene Drives Genetically engineered moths have been released into the wild to wipe out pests Precision control of CRISPR-Cas9 using small molecules and light Cas9-triggered chain ablation of cas9 as a gene drive brake Biologists create new genetic systems to neutralize gene drives
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