Speakers: Drs. Kim Pepin and Andrew Goldnar

USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

This is the third ticgin a series of four webinars.  Each will explore the topic of Ecological Modeling in Risk Assessment of Gene Drives.

Risk assessment of gene drive organisms will require the development of new tools.  These tools will complement established risk assessment methodologies for genetically modified organisms.  The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety describes the paradigm for risk assessment agreed to by most countries in the world.

Models and modelling will be needed to help forecast the ecological consequences of  gene drive organisms following their release. Unlike non-gene drive GM organisms, which can be limited in time and space, the potential for large-scale spread gene drive-containing organisms even from  limited releases in well-isolated field sites, means that risk assessors will need to consider models and forecasts in their decision-making.

Scientists and risk assessors have begun to give this topic their attention.  This series of four presentations examines the development and use of models in ecology generally and their use specifically to assess the ecological impacts of gene drive organisms.

Each seminar will be 45-50 minutes in length followed by questions and answers.

Not a convenient time?  Webinars are recorded and promptly posted on the GeneConvene Virtual Institute.