The risks of using gene drives to get rid of ‘pesky species’

The risks of using gene drives to get rid of ‘pesky species’

Tags: ,
R. Lewis,  Genetic Literacy Project,  2020.

The mammals of New Zealand have long posed a threat to native species. The Predator Free 2050 program is an effort to rid the island of these invaders – including using the tools of CRISPR-based genome editing to create a gene drive to jumpstart extinctions.

It’s a very bad idea.