Gene Drive Technology in the News
Dissecting The Sterility Phenotype Of Drosophila Suzukii Males
Tags: Fruit fly, Pest management, Sterile insect technique (SIT)Evrim Ağacı, The Pinnacle Gazette, 2025.
Groundbreaking findings on gene-edited males provide insights for pest management strategies. Researchers have made significant strides in controlling the invasive fruit pest Drosophila suzukii, commonly known as the spotted wing drosophila, utilizing innovative genetic ...
Selfish Genetic Elements and Meiotic Drive in Drosophila
Tags: Fruit fly, Selfish genetic elements, Sex distorterNature Research Intelligence, 2025.
Selfish genetic elements are segments of DNA that can enhance their own transmission to the next generation, often at a cost to the organism's overall fitness. In Drosophila, or fruit flies, these elements can lead to a phenomenon known as meiotic drive, where certain alleles are ...
Gene Drive Technology Offers Hope For Malaria Vector Control
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive, Malaria, Population suppression, Vector controlEvrim Ağacı, The Pinnacle Gazette, 2025.
A team of scientists has developed an innovative gene drive targeting Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, a key malaria vector in urban areas. Their strategy uses CRISPR technology to disrupt the doublesex (dsx) gene, crucial for female fertility, thereby reducing mosquito ...
Genetically Engineered Male Insects Shorten Their Mates’ Lifespans
Tags: Fruit fly, Genetic biocontrol, Mosquito husbandry, Mosquitoes, Population suppression, Vector controlSneha Khedkar, The Scientist, 2025.
On a still night, as the air is thick with silence, the sharp, whining buzz of a mosquito shatters the calm. These blood-sucking insects that disturb people’s deep slumber are also responsible for spreading diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, malaria and Zika fever, which ...
‘Toxic Male Technique’ promises faster biocontrol of mosquito populations
Tags: Biological control, Genetic engineering, Mosquitoes, Sterile insect technique (SIT)Macquarie University, Phys.org, 2025.
A new biological pest control method that targets the lifespan of female insects could significantly reduce the threat of insect pests such as disease-carrying mosquitoes by offering faster and more effective results than current methods. Described in Nature Communications, the ...
Genetically modified mosquitoes could soon be released in one Australian state: everything you need to know
Tags: Genetically modified mosquitoes, OceaniaMaddison Leach, 9 News, 2025.
Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever cause hundreds of thousands of deaths every year and a new venture wants to change that by introducing genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) right here in Australia. That venture is Oxitec Australia, a collaboration between the ...
Kenya Set to Introduce GMO Maize After Public Consultation Period
Tags: Africa, Agriculture, Policy, RegulationMartin Olage, Mwakilishi, 2025.
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has completed a month-long public consultation regarding the potential market introduction of Genetically Modified (GM) maize, specifically known as BT Maize. This consultation, initiated in mid-December after an official notice on December ...
A Tiny but Mighty Helper Stops Mosquito Viruses in Their Tracks
Mariella Bodemeier Loayza Careaga, The Scientist, 2024.Luciano Moreira, a vector biologist and the project lead of the World Mosquito Program in Brazil, has always been driven by solving people’s problems. As a kid, he concocted blends of house-cleaning products to eliminate common home pests; in adulthood, Moreira channeled his ...
Healthcare delivery in Africa still a big challenge, health experts warn
Tags: Africa, Policy, RegulationKBC News, 2024.
The adoption or harnessing of emerging technologies in the healthcare system in Africa to improve healthcare delivery remains low. It is reported that while the continent forms 18% of the global population, Africa accounts for 25% of the global diseases. Though there are ...
Genetic study solves the mystery of ‘selfish’ B chromosomes in rye
Tags: Chromosomal drive, Selfish genetic elementsLeibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Phys.org, 2024.
Some chromosomes, such as B chromosomes, can increase their inheritance rate to their own advantage. These extra chromosomes are found in many plants, animals, and fungi and rely upon various strategies to avoid being eliminated over time, as most organisms tend to remove ...
Man Vs. Mosquito
Tags: Arbovirus, Gene editing, Mosquitoes, WolbachiaAman Vora, Brown Political Review, 2024.
It is a middle school math teacher’s favorite trivia question: What is the world’s deadliest animal? After images of a hunting tiger or towering gorilla flash through our imagination, we remember that it is the humble mosquito, whose terrible impact on human lives and ...
Using genomics to find solutions to malaria
Tags: Africa, Gene drive, Malaria, Selfish genetic elements, Target malariaMorgan Morris, Nature Africa, 2024.
Joel Odero’s experiences of malaria is wide and deep. Growing up in a village in Kenya, he not only contracted the disease numerous times, but was all too familiar with the relentless daily regimen of spraying insecticides and checking malaria nets were not ripped. Decades ...
Russia’s Latest Target in Africa: U.S.-Funded Anti-Malaria Programs
Tags: Africa, Ethics, Risk and safety, Stakeholder engagement, Target malariaElian Peltier, The New York Times, 2024.
The scientists sifting through thousands of genetically modified mosquito larvae in a laboratory in Burkina Faso were trying to stop the spread of malaria, one of the biggest killers on the African continent. But in the pro-Russian propaganda telling of their work, the ...
A viral gene drive could offer a new approach to fighting herpes
Tags: Gene drive, Gene drive mechanismsMeghan Rosen, ScienceNews, 2024.
The words “herpes” and “spread” in the same sentence don’t typically spell good news. Unless, that is, you’re talking about a busybody new virus. That virus includes designer DNA called a gene drive that spreads from one herpes simplex virus to another. And it may be ...
Exploring new tools to fight vector-borne diseases: research and governance implications
Tags: Europe, Governance, Policy, Target malaria, Vector controlAlekos Simoni, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2024.
I recently had the honor and pleasure of attending an event co-organized by the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research at the European Parliament in Brussels, and delivering a presentation on our work at Target Malaria to develop new genetic tools to reduce malaria ...
Professor Abdoulaye Diabaté’s frank conversation with Bill Gates
Tags: Africa, Gene drive, Stakeholder engagement, Target malariaAfrican Media Agency, 2024.
On October 2, 2024, Professor Abdoulaye Diabaté, a prominent figure in malaria research and Head of Medical Entomology at Burkina Faso’s Research Institute in Health Sciences, gained international attention by appearing in the Netflix documentary series "What’s Next? The ...
10 myths and misconceptions around modified mosquitoes
Tags: Aedes, Genetically modified mosquitoes, Malaria, South/Central AmericaMilliam Murigi, k24, 2024.
In the fight against mosquito-borne diseases, scientists have turned to groundbreaking genetic technologies to reduce disease transmission. However, Genetically Modified (GM) mosquitoes have raised concerns and sparked myths and misconceptions around it. Abraham Isah, OFAB ...
The ultra-selfish gene
Tags: CRISPR, Gene drive, Malaria, Selfish genetic elementsMathias Kirk Bonde, Works in Progress, 2024.
Almost every cell in our bodies contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, which are packages of the DNA and genes that provide the code for producing living things. Sperm and egg cells, however, each contain only one set of chromosomes. This set of chromosomes has been recombined from ...
Scientists explore new solutions to fight insecticide resistance, emerging mosquito species
Tags: Africa, Anopheles, Mosquitoes, ResistanceMilliam Murigi, People Daily, 2024.
Africa has long been the epicenter of malaria, battling the deadly disease with a combination of strategies, including insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying. However, the landscape of this fight is rapidly changing. Mosquitoes are increasingly developing resistance to ...
Bill Gates’ Efforts To Eradicate Malaria And The Economic Impact Of Ridding The Globe Of This Disease
Tags: Malaria, PolicyKaili Killpack, Yahoo Finance, 2024.
In a compelling drive to eradicate one of the world’s deadliest diseases, Bill Gates is leveraging his substantial influence and resources to tackle malaria with renewed vigor. His foundation's recent initiatives are centered around a multi-faceted approach that blends ...
Understanding gene flow and its implications for gene drive research
Tags: Ecology, Gene drive, Population genetics/dynamicsOutreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2024.
Gene flow is the transfer of genetic information from one population to another. Also known as gene transfer or gene migration, it plays a crucial role in the evolution and adaptation of species. Understanding the dynamics of gene flow is essential to assess the potential risks ...
Is Kenya ready to turn to technology to finally defeat malaria?
Tags: Africa, Biodiversity/Conservation, Ecology, MalariaBrygettes Ngana, Nation, 2024.
For decades, researchers have tested and refined dozens of methods to combat malaria, striving to outmaneuver the resilient mosquito. From deploying bed nets to developing indoor residual spraying, these strategies have formed the frontline defense against this persistent ...
New genetic-editing technique to alter the traits and fates of wild populations
Tags: Biodiversity/Conservation, CRISPR, Ecology, Invasive species, Other mammalsLori Dajose, CalTech, 2024.
Gene drives are a common technology used to insert a novel gene into a population—for example, to make mosquitos resistant to malaria. They can also be used to modify existing genes, such as making herbicide-resistant weeds susceptible to herbicides once again or even to ...
Excess Lipids Keep Dengue at Bay
Tags: Aedes, Dengue, WolbachiaShelby Bradford, The Scientist, 2024.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito can transmit dengue virus; however, infection with endosymbiotic bacteria from the Wolbachia genus reduces viral transmission from these insects. Consequently, Wolbachia-infected mosquitos are one biocontrol agent used in areas with endemic dengue ...
What if GM mosquitoes could help limit the tiger mosquito population?
Tags: Genetically modified mosquitoes, Other arthropods, Risk assessmentAnonymous, All News Press, 2024.
What if the fight against the tiger mosquito, this invasive species originating from Southeast Asia and established in France for about twenty years, was not totally lost in advance? The exploratory project of Éric Marois, research officer Inserm, within the Institute of ...
Scientists want to use mosquito stomach bacteria to end malaria
Tags: Genetic biocontrol, Malaria, MosquitoesChia-Yu Chen & Shüné Oliver, Alliance for Science, 2024.
The months of September to May are an unfortunate season in South Africa: malaria season. The mosquito-borne disease is found in the north-eastern districts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. There are fewer malaria cases in South Africa compared to other ...
Malaria & Dengue; distinguishing mosquito-borne diseases
Tags: Dengue, Malaria, MosquitoesGrace Matheka, HapaKenya, 2024.
World Mosquito Day is commemorated every year on the 20th of August. The day brings an opportunity to raise awareness on the dangers posed by mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, and the ongoing efforts to combat them. Both malaria and dengue are transmitted by female ...
Could X Centromeric Drive Underpin PCOS, Miscarriage and Other Age-Related Reproductive Issues?
Tags: Transmission distortion, X chromosomeRhianna-lily Smith, Technology Networks, 2024.
One of the most prevalent conditions is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), affecting 8-13% of women of reproductive age. Characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excess androgen levels and ovarian cysts, PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility. Despite its ...
Genetically Modified Wolbachia mosquitoes help reduce virus transmission
Tags: Dengue, Mosquitoes, Vector control, WolbachiaPrecision Vaccinations, 2024.
Every year on World Mosquito Day, diseases spread by mosquitoes, which account for over 17% of all infectious diseases and lead to more than 700,000 deaths annually, are highlighted. Parasites, bacteria, or viruses can cause these diseases, including chikungunya, malaria, dengue, ...
Scientists’ novel technology to conserve mosquitoes
Tags: Gene drive, Malaria, MosquitoesMilliam Murigi, People Daily, 2024.
As the world celebrates World Mosquito Day today, scientists have introduced a revolutionary technology that could conserve mosquitoes instead of killing them while eliminating some of the diseases transmitted by mosquitos. Known as gene drive technology, this innovative ...
New genetic editing technique can modify wild populations with less risk
Tags: Ethics, Gene editing, Pest managementMacquarie University, Phys.org, 2024.
A new technique developed by researchers from Macquarie University and the California Institute of Technology could allow scientists to more safely alter the genetic makeup of wild populations. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers have ...
Researchers develop plant gene drive system for enhanced trait inheritance
Tags: GeneticsAnonymous, Scientific Inquirer, 2024.
A collaborative research team led by QIAN Wenfeng from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University has developed a plant gene drive system called CRISPR-Assisted Inheritance utilizing NPG1 (CAIN), which, ...
Mosquitoes On The Run Due To Wolbachia Programmes.
Tags: Mosquitoes, WolbachiaAnonymous, St Kitts and Nevis Observer, 2024.
Dengue is becoming an increasingly common disease in Central America and the Caribbean, according to PAHO, even as deaths from the mosquito-born condition have fallen in recent years due to improved identification of the condition and medical care. However the World Mosquito ...
Chinese researchers make genetic breakthrough that could change the future of agriculture: ‘Powerful and transformative strategy’
Tags: Agriculture, Gene editingJeremiah Budin, The Cool Down, 2024.
Chinese scientists have reportedly engineered a way to use gene-editing technology to bypass natural plant behavior and force crops to inherit genes that will make them more resilient and easier to grow, according to Interesting Engineering. "The genetic manipulation of wild ...
Gene Drives Shown to Work in Wild Plants. They Could Wipe Out Weeds.
Tags: Agriculture, Gene driveShelly Fan, Singularity Hub, 2024.
Henry Grabar has had enough battling knotweed. All he wanted was to build a small garden in Brooklyn—a bit of peace amid the cacophony of city life. But a plant with beet-red leaves soon took over his nascent garden. The fastest growing plant he’d ever seen, it could sprout ...
Former minister wants modified mosquitoes to fight dengue spread
Tags: Dengue, MosquitoesOtto Carrington, Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, 2024.
With this country reporting more dengue cases this year than last year and two dengue deaths reported so far, former health minister Dr Fuad Khan is urging the Government to consider genetically modified mosquitoes to help fight the ...
FILMS: Gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control
Tags: Gene drive, Malaria, MosquitoesSarah Hartley and Tom Law, Gene Drive Governance, 2024.
Gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control is a short documentary film that is beautifully shot in Uganda and explores Ugandan stakeholders’ hopes for gene drive mosquitoes – a radical new tool that offers a way to eliminate or change the mosquitoes that cause malaria. Uganda ...
Re-engineering cancerous tumors to self-destruct and kill drug-resistant cells
Tags: Gene editingPennsylvania State University, Medical Xpress, 2024.
Treating cancer can sometimes feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole. The disease can become resistant to treatment, and clinicians never know when, where and what resistance might emerge, leaving them one step behind. But a team led by Penn State researchers has found a way to ...
New Global Malaria Programme operational strategy calls to accelerate the development and introduction of new tools
Tags: MalariaLodney Nazaré, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2024.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published its Global Malaria Programme operational strategy 2024–2030. The document builds on the previously adopted Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030, and sets out priorities and key activities needed to support ...
99% gene transmission possible, China’s CRISPR tool boosts food security
Tags: CRISPR, Gene driveGairika Mitra, Interesting Engineering, 2024.
Chinese scientists have engineered a solution by which they could bypass natural plant gene inheritance. They aim to deploy a CRISPR-based gene editing system to help the transmission of preferred genes even when they aren’t suitable for a plant. The scientists devised a ...
Chinese scientists find natural selection loophole that could help transform food security
Tags: CRISPR, Gene editingVictoria Bela, South China Morning Post, 2024.
Scientists in China have found a way to bypass natural plant gene inheritance, by using a CRISPR-based gene editing system to boost the transmission of preferred genes even when they are detrimental to a plant. By harnessing a system that uses both a toxin and an antidote to ...
The race against time to defeat mosquito-borne diseases
Tags: Aedes, Dengue, MalariaMichael Peel, Financial Times, 2024.
Deep in the bowels of Imperial College London’s main campus is a facility known as the insectary. The journey to it, via basement corridors and an entrance that sounds an alarm upon opening, feels like something out of a horror film. Beyond two sets of double doors lies the ...
A New CRISPR-Driven Technology for Gene Drive in Plants
Tags: Agriculture, CRISPR, Gene driveLori Dajose, CalTech, 2024.
Spreading a specific genetic trait through a population, even if that trait does not benefit those who carry it, is the purpose of a "gene drive." Gene drives can be used for many different applications. These are divided into two broad categories: population modification and ...
First synthetic gene drive for plants could help eradicate weeds
Tags: Agriculture, Gene drive, Synthetic biologyErik Stokstad, Science, 2024.
More than a decade ago, a research group used the genome editor CRISPR to put evolution on fast forward, spurring a gene to spread throughout a population of lab-reared fruit flies many times faster than it normally could in nature. Mosquitoes with CRISPR-based “gene drives” ...
Genetically modified mosquitoes to fight malaria
Tags: Africa, Gene editing, Mosquitoes, OxitecThe Naked Scientists, 2024.
Genetically engineered mosquitoes are taking to the air in an experiment to attempt to curtail malaria in Djibouti. The tiny African nation all but eliminated malaria just over a decade ago. But rising population and urbanisation has seen disease cases skyrocketing again, making ...
Investigating the ecological role of malaria mosquitoes
Tags: Anopheles, Malaria, MosquitoesTalya D. Hackett, Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research, 2024.
A team of entomologists and ecologists at the University of Ghana have been working with colleagues from the University of Oxford and the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph on a groundbreaking project to investigate the potential ecological ...
Where gene drive fits into WHO’s new Global Malaria Programme operational strategy
Tags: Africa, Gene drive, MalariaMouhamed Drabo, Target Malaria, 2024.
On the 23rd of April 2024, WHO published an updated operational strategy for its Global Malaria Programme for the years 2024-2030. The Global Malaria Programme was initially guided by a strategy intended to cover the years 2016-2030, which served as a framework and guide for ...
EPA, USDA, and FDA to Clarify Overlapping Biotechnology Regulatory Frameworks
Tags: North America, RegulationAlan J. Sachs, Jack B. Zietman, The National Law Review, 2024.
On May 8, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a joint plan to identify areas of ambiguity, gaps, or uncertainty in their coordinated regulation of biotechnology ...
Scientists use gut bacteria to prevent mosquito-borne diseases
Tags: Arbovirus, Dengue, North AmericaCGTN, 2024.
Chinese scientists have developed a more natural strategy to prevent mosquito-borne diseases by changing insects' gut microbes, which might be used as an alternative to controversial experiments that see genetically-modified mosquitoes released in Florida. Mosquito-borne viruses, ...
Gene drive mosquitoes designed to eliminate malaria – but governance is complex, new film shows
Tags: Gene drive, Governance, Malaria, MosquitoesRussell Parton, University of Exeter, 2024.
A radical new biotechnology could eliminate the mosquitoes that cause malaria, but in Uganda – where malaria is the leading cause of death – a lack of information and debate is undermining public debate on the issue. Professor Sarah Hartley’s new research documentary ...
