Expert reaction to a paper suggesting that gene drives could be used to help control grey squirrel numbers in the UK
Expert reaction to a paper suggesting that gene drives could be used to help control grey squirrel numbers in the UK
Tags: Gene drive synthetic, Invasive species, Replicator/site directed nuclease, Resistance, Rodents, Self limiting, Self sustaining, Toxin-antidoteAnonymous, Science Media Centre, 2021.
This study assesses the prospects for using a gene drive to control invasive grey squirrels in the UK. This is a modelling study exploring the potential for such an approach – no such gene drives currently exist and developing them for grey squirrels would be quite a long-term project. Invasive species are a major problem for biodiversity and conservation; in many cases there are no adequate methods for control. Genetic methods may provide new options, potentially both more effective and with fewer off-target effects. Most work on gene drives has focused on mosquitoes; this study is unusual in focusing on a vertebrate (grey squirrel), though there has also been interest in targeting invasive populations of mice and rats on islands.
