Scholarly Literature

This is a database of scholarly literature that concentrates currently on natural and engineered selfish genetic elements (gene drives).  The latest are shown here.
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A CRISPR homing gene drive targeting a haplolethal gene removes resistance alleles and successfully spreads through a cage population

14387
J. Champer, E. Yang, E. Lee, J. Liu, A. G. Clark and P. W. Messer,  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,  202004373. 2020-09-14 15:23:07.
Here, we present a CRISPR homing drive that was able to successfully spread to all individuals in a laboratory cage study in Drosophila melanogaster without any apparent evolution of resistance.

Underlying beliefs linked to public opinion about gene drive and pest-specific toxin for pest control

14331
E. A. MacDonald, E. Edwards, J. Balanovic and F. Medvecky,  Wildlife Research,  2020-09-08 18:03:31.
Public engagement that acknowledges and responds to these underlying beliefs, rather than a traditional campaign based on biodiversity and environmental gains, may be more effective at creating a constructive dialogue about if and how these tools should be used, and to avoid replicating the polarised debate about 1080.

Prospects and Pitfalls: Next-Generation Tools to Control Mosquito-Transmitted Disease

14366
E. P. Caragata, S. Dong, Y. Dong, M. L. Simões, C. V. Tikhe and G. Dimopoulos,  Annual Review of Microbiology,  74:455-475. 2020-09-08 15:57:19.
A diverse array of next-generation tools has been designed to eliminate mosquito populations or to replace them with mosquitoes that are less capable of transmitting key pathogens.

Generating single-sex litters: development of CRISPR-Cas9 genetic tools to produce all-male offspring

14343
C. Douglas, V. Maciulyte, J. Zohren, D. M. Snell, O. A. Ojarikre, P. J. Ellis and J. M. A. Turner,  bioRxiv,  2020.09.07.285536. 2020-09-07 18:52:30.
Using the mouse as a model, we developed a synthetic, two-part bicomponent strategy for generating all-male litters.

Suppressing evolution in genetically engineered systems through repeated supplementation

15188
N. C. Layman, B. M. Tuschhoff, A. J. Basinski, C. H. Remien, J. J. Bull and S. L. Nuismer,  Evolutionary Applications,  12. 2020-09-05 15:21:40.
Genetically engineered organisms are prone to evolve in response to the engineering. This evolution is often undesirable and can negatively affect the purpose of the engineering. Methods that maintain the stability of engineered genomes are therefore critical to the successful design and use of genetically engineered organisms. One potential method to limit unwanted evolution is by taking advantage of the ability of gene flow to counter local adaption, a process of supplementation. Here, we investigate the feasibility of supplementation as a mechanism to offset the evolutionary degradation of a transgene in three model systems: a bioreactor, a gene drive, and a transmissible vaccine.

Maternal Transmission Ratio Distortion in Two Iberian Pig Varieties

14894
M. Vazquez-Gomez, M. M. de Hijas-Villalba, L. Varona, N. Ibanez-Escriche, J. P. Rosas, S. Negro, J. L. Noguera and J. Casellas,  Genes,  11:16. 2020-09-05 13:58:00.
Although TRD can be a confounding factor in genetic mapping studies, this phenomenon remains mostly unknown in pigs, particularly in traditional breeds (i.e., the Iberian pig). We aimed to describe the maternal TRD prevalence and its genomic distribution in two Iberian varieties. No strong evidence of biological effects was found in genes with TRDLs. However, some biological processes could be affected by TRDLs, such as embryogenesis at different levels and lipid metabolism. These findings could provide useful insight into the genetic mechanisms to improve the swine industry, particularly in traditional breeds.

Inherently confinable split-drive systems in Drosophila

14294
G. Terradas, A. B. Buchman, J. B. Bennett, I. Shriner, J. M. Marshall, O. S. Akbari and E. Bier,  bioRxiv,  2020.09.03.282079. 2020-09-03 14:16:46.
Here, we test split gene-drive (sGD) systems in Drosophila melanogaster that were inserted into essential genes required for viability (rab5, rab11, prosalpha2) or fertility (spo11). I

Governing New Biotechnologies for Biodiversity Conservation: Gene Drives, International Law, and Emerging Politics

14258
J. L. Reynolds,  Global Environmental Politics,  20:28-48. 2020-08-31 14:28:38.
This article describes and analyzes the international law and politics of gene drives’ research, development, and possible use, with an emphasis on their potential biodiversity applications.

Gene Drive Dynamics in Natural Populations: The Importance of Density Dependence, Space, and Sex

15277
S. Dhole, A. L. Lloyd and F. Gould,  Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics,  51:505-531. 2020-08-28 21:09:09.
The spread of synthetic gene drives is often discussed in the context of panmictic populations connected by gene flow and described with simple deterministic models. Under such assumptions, an entire species could be altered by releasing a single individual carrying an invasive gene drive, such as a standard homing drive. While this remains a theoretical possibility, gene drive spread in natural populations is more complex and merits a more realistic assessment. The fate of any gene drive released in a population would be inextricably linked to the population’s ecology. Given the uncertainty often involved in ecological assessment of natural populations, understanding the sensitivity of gene drive spread to important ecological factors is critical. Here we review how different forms of density dependence, spatial heterogeneity, and mating behaviors can impact the spread of self-sustaining gene drives. We highlight specific aspects of gene drive dynamics and the target populations that need further research.

Chromosome drives via CRISPR-Cas9 in yeast

15025
H. Xu, M. Han, S. Zhou, B.-Z. Li, Y. Wu and Y.-J. Yuan,  Nature Communications,  11:4344. 2020-08-28 15:22:50.
Our results show that the entire Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome can be eliminated efficiently through only one double-strand break around the centromere via CRISPR-Cas9. As a proof-of-concept experiment of this CRISPR-Cas9 chromosome drive system, the synthetic yeast chromosome X is completely eliminated, and the counterpart wild-type chromosome X harboring a green fluorescent protein gene or the components of a synthetic violacein pathway are duplicated by sexual reproduction. We also demonstrate the use of chromosome drive to preferentially transmit complex genetic traits in yeast.

Evading evolution of resistance to gene drives

14174
R. Gomulkiewicz, M. L. Thies and J. J. Bull,  bioRxiv,  2020-08-27 14:29:17.
Here we develop mathematical and computational models to identify conditions under which suppression drives will evade resistance, even if resistance is present initially.

Novel combination of CRISPR-based gene drives eliminates resistance and localises spread

14172
N. R. Faber, G. R. McFarlane, R. C. Gaynor, I. Pocrnic, C. B. A. Whitelaw and G. Gorjanc,  bioRxiv,  2020-08-27 14:22:46.
We present HD-ClvR, a novel combination of CRISPR-based gene drives that eliminates resistance and localises spread. As a case study, we model HD-ClvR in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), which is an invasive pest in the UK and responsible for both biodiversity and economic losses.

Next-generation gene drive for population modification of the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles gambiae

14015
R. Carballar-Lejarazú, C. Ogaugwu, T. Tushar, A. Kelsey, T. B. Pham, J. Murphy, H. Schmidt, Y. Lee, G. C. Lanzaro and A. A. James,  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,  202010214. 2020-08-24 12:38:12.
We show here that the Cas9/guide RNA-based gene-drive components of a genetically-engineered malaria mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae, achieve key target product profile requirements for efficacy and performance.

A home and rescue gene drive forces its inheritance stably persisting in populations

14006
N. P. Kandul, J. Liu, J. B. Bennett, J. M. Marshall and O. Akbari,  bioRxiv,  2020.08.21.261610. 2020-08-23 17:46:58.
We demonstrate that HomeR can achieve nearly ~100% transmission enabling it to persist at genotypic fixation in several multi-generational population cage experiments, underscoring its long term stability.

Mixed knobs in corn cobs

14581
P. Lamelza and M. A. Lampson,  Genes and Development,  34:1110-1112. 2020-08-20 14:31:38.
In this issue of Genes & Development, Swentowsky and colleagues (pp. 1239-1251) show that two types of knobs, those composed of 180-bp and TR1 sequences, recruit their own novel and divergent kinesin-14 family members to form neocentromeres.

Distinct kinesin motors drive two types of maize neocentromeres

14578
K. W. Swentowsky, J. I. Gent, E. G. Lowry, V. Schubert, X. Ran, K. F. Tseng, A. E. Harkess, W. H. Qiu and R. K. Dawe,  Genes and Development,  34:1239-1251. 2020-08-20 14:24:50.
Here we describe a second kinesin-14 gene, TR-1 kinesin (Trkin), that is required to mobilize neocentromeres made up of the minor tandem repeat TR-1.

Lateral Gene Transfer Mechanisms and Pan-genomes in Eukaryotes

13939
S. J. Sibbald, L. Eme, J. M. Archibald and A. J. Roger,  Trends in Parasitology,  2020-08-19 17:12:29.
Here we review evidence for known and potential mechanisms of LGT into diverse eukaryote lineages with a particular focus on protists, and we discuss trends emerging from recently reported examples. We also explore the potential role of LGT in generating ‘pan-genomes’ in diverse eukaryotic species.

Self-limiting paratransgenesis

W. Huang, S. B. Wang and M. Jacobs-Lorena,  PloS Neglected Tropical Diseases,  14:9. 2020-08-18 18:48:31.
Our results suggest that initial field trials can make use of this reversible system whereby released recombinant bacteria expressing anti-plasmodial compounds from a plasmid revert to wild type at a predictable rate.

Towards Responsive Eco-technology: The Development of a Male Sex-biased Mouse

24607
W. Kamau,  Massachusetts Institute of Technology,  2020-08-16 08:55:45.
CRISPR-Cas systems have catalyzed the emergence of several synthetic population management strategies, like gene drives, for controlling pests and disease vectors. As these technologies garner greater visibility in both general and regulatory audiences, questions have arisen about the invasiveness of drive strategies and have underscored a need for community guidance in designing population management technologies. In heterogametic species, an engineered male-determining chromosome can serve as a method for providing robust and localized population suppression without the need for a gene drive. In mice, X-chromosome inactivation is mediated by X-inactive specific transcript (Xist) long non-coding RNA. I propose to encode a system on the Y chromosome to knock out a necessary region for proper X-inactivation in females. Loss of Xist gene function has no known effects in males or females with a dysfunctional maternal copy, however, females who inherit a dysfunctional paternal copy die at embryonic day 8.5. Thus, this results in a male sex-biased mouse. To create a daughterless mouse, my proof-of-principle design will include a constitutively expressed Cas protein with at minimum a two-guide array. Additionally, I will draw on the ecological species concept found in some cultures, like the M¯aori of New Zealand, to create an alternate eco-cisgenic version using cisgenic murine elements and a CRISPR system found in a commensal species of bacteria. Creating a cisgenic non-driving mammalian model of a genetic population suppression system would be a first-of-its-kind example to show how biological engineering design decisions can be congruent with culturally specific notions of ecology.

Bednets or Biotechnology: To Rescue Current Persons or Research for the Future?

14236
D. E. Callies,  Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences,  14. 2020-08-13 13:44:08.
After an exploration of the duty to rescue and cost-effectiveness analysis, I suggest we look towards the literature on intergenerational justice for a justifiable answer to the question of how we ought to allocate our malaria resources.

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