Gene Drive Technology in the News
Genetically modified squirrels could curb growing population of greys
16542S. Knapton, Telegraph, 2021-03-04 16:06:59.
Mutant grey squirrels, genetically modified to spread infertility genes, could be released into the wild to tackle the burgeoning population,
Expert reaction to a paper suggesting that gene drives could be used to help control grey squirrel numbers in the UK
16540Anonymous, Science Media Centre, 2021-03-04 15:59:10.
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.
CRISPR gene drives may come to a squirrel near you.
16536Anonymous, NewsBeezer, 2021-03-04 15:48:43.
Today’s gene drive technologies could be blended to provide control of the invasive gray squirrel population in the UK – with minimal risk to other populations, according to a new modeling published in the journal Scientific reports. Gene driving introduces altered genes into a population that can cause infertility in women. This allows scientists to control the size of the population. However, this tactic faces technical difficulties such as controlling the spread of altered genes while certain animals that are part of the gene drive population mate with uncontrolled populations ̵
Tensions rise as GM mosquito release nears in Florida Keys
16520T. O'Hara, Keynews.com, 2021-03-03 20:29:44.
Tensions seem to be rising as a planned release of genetically modified mosquitoes nears. The British-based biotech company Oxitec plans to release genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the Florida Keys sometime after April, but has yet to disclose exact locations in the Keys or a date.
Florida Keys moves forward with genetically modified mosquitoes
16524H. Vela, local10.com, 2021-03-03 18:08:13.
The feared GMO mosquitoes are not going away. Opponents of the technology fear the date of the release in the Florida Keys is getting closer, and they are not ready for the possible repercussions of the experiment. The fight over whether or not to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Monroe County has been going on for almost a decade. Barry Wray said the mosquito control team’s contractor wants to deliver the first batch in April. Wray, the executive director of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition, said he doesn’t believe there is enough evidence to prove that the technology is safe. He said there is a need for independent scientific investigation. “You don’t really know what the long-term outcomes could be or how to quantify those risks, and if you can’t do that scientifically, then you don’t know how to responsibly mitigate it or detect if something is going awry,” Wray said.
How Brussels can help or hinder the fight against malaria
16511F. Okumu, EURACTIV, 2021-03-01 21:46:44.
In the wake of the pandemic, the world has much for which to thank Europe. Not only did European science lead the field in developing the first approved vaccine against COVID-19, but the EU’s long history of rigorous regulatory approval has also allowed for public confidence in its safety and efficacy. For years, the EU has provided the global gold standard for protecting human health and safety while fostering scientific innovation to improve lives and wellbeing. Heading into a crucial decade for world preservation, the EU has another chance to unleash the power of science in the search for solutions to existential challenges both at home and in neighbouring regions.
When and where will millions of mosquitoes be released? Here are details for Florida Keys
16485D. Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2021-02-25 21:09:17.
The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District announced this week a wide and vague planned range of deployment for the lab-designed mosquitoes — neighborhoods from mile marker 10 to 93. The trial is being conducted by British biotech company Oxitec. It’s a method approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Florida, and the mosquito control district’s five-member board, to try to eradicate or significantly reduce the local population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Company uses engineered mosquitoes to prevent diseases
16514N. Herzog and D. Niesel, The Daily News, 2021-02-24 21:47:32.
It’s amazing how many serious infectious diseases are transmitted by insects like ticks, fleas and mosquitoes. These are called vector-borne diseases, which are responsible for significant human suffering and economic disruption. Mosquitoes are responsible for the spread of many viral diseases including Zika, malaria, West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus and many others. For the majority of these diseases, we don’t have effective therapeutics or vaccines to treat those that get sick. One approach to control these diseases is to eliminate or reduce the arthropod or insect vector populations using broad spectrum pesticides. These pesticides can cause health problems in humans, and the vectors can become resistant to these chemicals. A new strategy has emerged that involves genetically modifying mosquitoes to disrupt their ability to reproduce. This limits the mosquito population, reducing the possibility of disease spread.
Mosquito trial will begin in April, but Keys locations won’t be disclosed
16483S. Matthis, KEYSWEEKLY, 2021-02-23 20:54:42.
FKMCD spokesman Chad Huff wrote in an email, “The physical location of each box is still being finalized. Since most will be situated on private property at owner request, FKMCD-Oxitec will NOT be providing specific addresses due to privacy concerns and protection of project integrity.” Phil Goodman, chairman of the FKMCD said the decision to keep addresses confidential was an operations decision, not a decision by the elected board. “Right now, we don’t have any specific sites that are 100 percent selected,” said Andrea Leal, executive director of the FKMCD. “We are just narrowing down areas with potential.”
Locals protest over genetically modified mosquito plan in Florida Keys
16479D. Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2021-02-23 14:11:23.
Sometime this year, somewhere in the Florida Keys, a British biotech company is expected to release millions of genetically modified male mosquitoes in an effort to breed out of existence an invasive species of bug responsible for the transmittal of deadly diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika. But, the pilot project remains controversial, and a large segment of people who live in the island chain are trying to stop it. About two dozen people gathered Sunday morning outside the Murray Nelson Government and Cultural Arts Center in Key Largo to protest the planned release of the lab-designed bugs.
Plain language summary: How do we have a public conversation about new technologies for conservation? The possibilities and pitfalls of scientific language
16409Annonymous, Relational Thinking, 2021-02-17 18:30:27.
Having caused a catastrophic decline of animal species, people now look to new technologies to reverse the damage. Gene drive is a potential tool that could increase the proportion of male offspring in rat populations and eventually reduce their overall numbers. Some suggest this tool could eliminate rats from islands, like New Zealand, where rats have a devastating impact on native species. While holding much potential, the New Zealand public has shown hesitation towards genetic tools. In our study, we investigated how four articles, each emphasizing a different aspect of gene drive (i.e., humaneness, pragmatism, decision making, and scientific innovation), impacted opinion towards gene drive alongside people’s emotional responses, biases, and perceived risks towards the tool.
Detailed genome map of malaria vector
16381The Hindu, Aspirant World, 2021-02-14 15:03:12.
In order to engineer advanced forms of defence against malaria transmission, including targeted CRISPR and gene drive–based strategies, scientists require intricate knowledge of the genomes of vector mosquitoes. CRISPR technology is a gene-editing tool which allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function.They produced a new reference genome for the Asian malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi.
Researchers Unveil Detailed Genome of Invasive Malaria Mosquito
16374M. Aguilera, UC San Diego News Center, 2021-02-11 20:37:12.
Mosquito-transmitted malaria remains the number one worldwide killer among vector-borne diseases, claiming more than 400,000 human lives in 2019. In order to engineer advanced forms of defense against malaria transmission, including targeted CRISPR and gene drive-based strategies, scientists require intricate knowledge of the genomes of vector mosquitoes. Mahul Chakraborty—a project scientist at the University of California, Irvine, working with colleagues at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS) at UC San Diego and India, and the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology in Bangalore, India—has produced a groundbreaking new reference genome for the Asian malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi. Full details of the genome, which the scientists say is now on par with the best animal genomes available to science (humans and fruit flies), are published in the journal BMC Biology.
Projects to target a range of pest control solutions
16366K. McCormack, The Chronicle, 2021-02-10 20:19:28.
With the annual national cost of established vertebrate pest animals estimated to be around $800 million, and over $4 billion for weeds, it’s in Australia’s best interest to try and tackle these pesky problems at their root causes. 19 projects will be funded following a competitive grant process to research and advance breakthrough solutions to control some of Australia’s worst established pest animals and weeds, including fall armyworm and prickly acacia. Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said he was delighted with the high calibre and diversity of projects coming from the popular grant round.
Oxitec gears up for test releases
16386T. O'Hara, Keynews.com, 2021-02-10 15:10:19.
The United Kingdom-based biotech company Oxitec will soon announce the test locations and timetable for releasing its genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys.
Assisting Evolution: How Far Should We Go to Help Species Adapt?
16369E. Kolbert, YaleEnvironment360, 2021-02-09 20:28:55.
It was a hot, intensely blue day in the Australian Outback, about 350 miles north of Adelaide. I was tagging along with Moseby as she checked the batteries on the motion-sensitive cameras that dot Arid Recovery, an ecosystem restoration project she and her husband launched in 1997. The project sprawls over 47 square miles of red earth and scrub. It’s entirely surrounded by a six-foot-tall fence, which is designed to keep out feral cats and foxes. Inside the main fence is a series of smaller fenced-in paddocks. Several years ago, Moseby decided to start adding cats into some of these. Her reasoning was simple and, in its own way, radical. The outback ecosystem had been so fundamentally changed, that, if the native animals were to survive, they would have to change, too. Perhaps they could be trained to avoid cats, which were introduced to the country by the British colonists and now can be found virtually everywhere in Australia, including most islands.
Number of Project Wolbachia mosquitoes released is constantly reviewed to maintain suppression of dengue: NEA
16388N. L. Ching, today, 2021-02-09 15:12:34.
Project Wolbachia – Singapore has yielded promising results so far.Releases of non-biting male Wolbachia-Aedes mosquitoes have suppressed the urban Aedes aegypti mosquito populations in study sites at Tampines and Yishun by up to 90 per cent, and we have observed 58 to 74 per cent less dengue cases in 2020 in areas where releases have been ongoing for at least a year compared to areas without releases. However, this does not mean that there will be no dengue cases in the study sites, especially in the initial period, because it takes several months for the releases to bring down the dengue mosquito population.While some residents at the release sites have noticed more non-biting mosquitoes around their homes, the released male mosquitoes do not bite, and the overall data shows a clear benefit — fewer dengue cases.
Should we dim the sun? Will we even have a choice
16384E. Klein, New York Times, 2021-02-09 15:06:18.
“Under a White Sky” is going to be on my best books of 2021 list. It’s a wonderful work. Kolbert is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Sixth Extinction,” which you may have read. She is a staff writer at The New Yorker and just one of the great science journalists of this time, and particularly one of the great climate journalists of this age. But this book, this book’s existence is evidence of how badly that fight is going. This is a book about what we are going to need to contemplate in the coming years that we don’t want to. It’s a book about taking responsibility for how irreversibly we have altered the natural world; how often we have tried to control it, and then watched those attempts at control fail; how often the best most scientific minds of the age have come up with some brilliant solution, implemented it, and then watched calamity result. And at the same time — and this is what makes the book so worthwhile — it is a book about how there is no going back. Not now, not ever. We are in the Anthropocene. The future from here is an endless layering on of new efforts to control the consequences of our past efforts. We don’t get to flinch or pretend we don’t have to contemplate any of this. We’ve gone too far. One of the hardest things to do as a writer — and I tell you this from personal experience — is to write ambivalence. It’s easy to write a polemic or a sharp take. It is hard to write down the middle path, where you are simply describing things as they are, knowing that every possible obvious answer you can come to is probably a bad one, knowing that the hubris embedded in past attempts to solve this problem means any future brilliant idea is likely to end that way, too, but that doesn’t mean we can do nothing. But Kolbert walks that path really beautifully here, which is why I wanted to talk to her for the show. As always, my email is theezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. I’m always interested to know who you’d like to see on the show. The weirder, the better. So send me your guest suggestions. Here’s Elizabeth Kolbert.
Public attitudes towards synthetic biology
16363CSIRO, Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, 2021-02-08 20:06:39.
A national survey has been conducted by CSIRO’s Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform as an important first step in measuring public attitudes towards synthetic biology. The survey draws on the views of more than 8,000 Australians, and researchers are examining the data to determine current attitudes to these emerging technologies
Grey squirrels: is birth control the solution to Britain’s invasive species problem?
16275J. Gilchrist, The Conversation, 2021-02-03 17:03:29.
As with the UK’s other invasive species, such as rabbits, signal crayfish and Japanese knotweed, introducing the grey squirrel has proved to be an expensive mistake. Not only do grey squirrels displace red squirrels, they strip bark from trees. A recent report estimated that this could cost commercial forestry and native woodlands £1.1 billion (US$1.5 billion) over the next 40 years, including revenue lost to damaged timber, reduced carbon storage, tree replacement costs and squirrel control. Despite efforts to kill grey squirrels over several decades, their populations remain large and widespread.
Mosquitoes genetically modified to be resistant to Zika
16259Staff, Lab+Life Scientist, 2021-02-02 15:55:50.
Researchers have wrestled with different strategies for controlling the spread of Zika virus, which is transmitted to humans from female mosquito bites. One approach, which has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency, will see more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes released into the Florida Keys in 2021 and 2022. These ‘suicide mosquitoes’ are genetically altered to produce offspring that die before emerging into adults and therefore cannot bite humans and spread disease.
Experts oppose plan to breed mosquitoes
16279T. Abet, Daily Monitor, 2021-02-01 17:11:29.
Environmentalists have opposed the plan to breed and release genetically modified mosquitoes in the country to curb malaria prevalence. They say the act presents substantial human and environmental health risks. Their objection follows last week’s announcement by scientists at Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) that they have embarked on a series of activities aimed at breeding and releasing genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) that could curb malaria transmission.
Les Européens très critiques vis-à-vis du forçage génétique
16231L. Duboua-Lorsch, EURACTIV, 2021-01-29 16:38:41.
Cette technique, qui vise à éradiquer ou modifier certaines espèces dites nuisibles, sera au cœur des négociations cette année, alors que se profile la COP15 sur la biodiversité. maginez un monde débarrassé d’insectes porteurs de maladies, de parasites agricoles, d’espèces envahissantes… Les possibilités semblent infinies avec la nouvelle technique du « gene drive », en français forçage génétique. Née au début des années 2000, cette technique de modification génétique permet à un gène d’être transmis de manière quasi-systématique à ses descendants. En quelques générations seulement, l’ensemble d’une espèce sauvage peut être remplacée par ces nouveaux individus génétiquement forcés.
Project Wolbachia: Residents are killing the ‘helpful’ mosquitoes, which can be a nuisance
16228T. J. Cheng, today, 2021-01-29 16:33:12.
In 2019, Dr Amy Khor, then Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, said that there was a 90 per cent suppression rate at study sites in Tampines and Yishun from February to November that year. However, certain public housing estates under the project were still dengue hot zones last year.The idea of the project is to have the male Aedes mosquitoes, which are injected with the Wolbachia bacteria, mate with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The females then go on to lay eggs that do not hatch, effectively suppressing their numbers.
Genetically modified mosquitoes to curb malaria
16221T. Abet, Daily Monitor, 2021-01-29 16:20:15.
Scientists at Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) have started breeding mosquitoes with the aim of modifying their genetic materials and releasing them to the environment to curb malaria transmission. The genetically modified mosquitoes, according to the scientists, do not transmit malaria parasites when they bite. Dr Jonathan Kayondo, the project lead coordinator at the UVRI, said when the modified male mosquito mates with common mosquitoes, the female off springs are infertile. This, he explained will significantly suppress the population or eliminate mosquitoes thereby stopping malaria transmission and deaths.
New genetically modified mosquitoes to help fight malaria
16216D. Zirimala, Capital Radio FM, 2021-01-29 16:11:15.
According to Dr. Jonathan Kayondo, the principal investigator of the Target Malaria project, the genetically modified mosquitoes do not transmit malaria parasites when they bite. These are made infertile so that when they cross breed with the female anopheles mosquito, they are not able to reproduce. He says with this new research project, they are complimenting the already existing malaria control methods such as insecticides treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying and drugs but there is need to get additional tools to help eradicate the disease.
Proceedings of an expert workshop on community agreement for gene drive research in Africa – Co-organised by KEMRI, PAMCA and Target Malaria [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]
16224D. Thizy, L. Pare Toe, C. Mbogo, D. Matoke-Muhia, V. P. Alibu, S. K. Barnhill-Dilling, T. Chantler, G. Chongwe, J. Delborne, L. Kapiriri, E. Nassonko Kavuma, S. Koloi-Keaikitse, A. Kormos, K. Littler, D. Lwetoijera, R. Vargas de Moraes, N. Mumba, L. Muten, Gates Open Research, 2021-01-28 16:25:31.
Target Malaria, the Kenya Medical Research Institute and the Pan African Mosquito Control Association co-organised a workshop with researchers and practitioners on this topic to question the model proposed by Target Malaria in its research so far that involved the release of genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes and how this could be adapted to future studies involving gene drive mosquito releases for them to offer reflections about potential best practices. This paper shares the outcomes of that workshop and highlights the remaining topics for discussion before a comprehensive model can be design
RNAi-based products: A sustainable alternative to hazardous pesticides
16211Ghent University, Phys Org, 2021-01-27 13:59:48.
RNAi-based biocontrol is a great alternative to hazardous pesticides and can contribute towards reversing the alarming decline in farmland birds and beneficial insects (especially pollinating ones). RNAi is a well-known natural biological process in most
Genetically-modified mosquitoes key to stopping Zika virus spread
16208University of Missouri, Medical Xpress, 2021-01-26 13:52:44.
Alexander Franz, an associate professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, collaborated with researchers at Colorado State University by using CRISPR gene-editing technology to produce mosquitoes that are unable to replicate Zika virus and therefore cannot infect a human through biting. "We genetically manipulated these mosquitoes by inserting an artificial gene into their genome that triggers one of the immune pathways in the midgut to recognize and destroy the RNA genome of Zika virus," Franz said. "By developing these mosquitoes that are resistant to the virus, the disease cycle is interrupted so transmission to humans can no longer take place." Franz added that the genetic modification is inheritable, so future generations of the altered mosquitoes would be resistant to Zika virus as well.
Into the Wild: GMOs head for the forest
16115L. Sharratt, Sentinel, 2021-01-25 13:49:25.
Genetic engineering is set to leave the farm for the forest. After over twenty years of growing genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) crop plants in North America, researchers are now proposing to plant GE trees in the forests of eastern US and Canada. This is a precedent-setting request that asks us to accept, even embrace, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the wild. The first genetically engineered forest tree is now being considered for release into the wild. The US Department of Agriculture is now assessing a proposal from university researchers to plant a GE American chestnut tree in forests. The researchers have genetically engineered the tree to tolerate the blight Cryphonectria parasitica that decimated American chestnut populations in Canada and the US in the 1900’s. This GE tree is engineered with a gene from wheat, key to creating the blight-tolerant trait, as well as genetic material from four other species: a plant related to mustard, two different bacteria, and a plant virus. Together, the use of this new genetic material has resulted in the “Darling 58” GE American chestnut tree.
Responsibly Developing Gene Drives: The GeneConvene Global Collaborative
15969J. Toomey, Bill of Health, 2021-01-13 19:18:06.
The GeneConvene Global Collaborative, a project of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, was started this past July to promote the responsible development and regulation of gene drive technologies. It brings together researchers, regulators and stakeholders around the world to develop best practices for gene drive research and implementation. Because of my prior writing on this topic, I participated in GeneConvene’s fall webinar series and spoke with scientists there about the project. Debates about the regulation of gene drives are unique in several respects, because the technology is unique in several respects.
‘Clever Approach’: Scientists Create GM-Free Organisms Using Genetic Engineering
15955A. Paleja, The WIRE, 2021-01-11 17:07:06.
Farther to the north, researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a novel way to resolve this problem. They used genetic engineering to create organisms for release that are not genetically modified. Maciej Maselko was a postdoctoral associate at the university when he was part of the study. “Slow and expensive regulatory approvals for GM insect release” inspired the team’s work, he told The Wire Science. “We looked for a way to get the benefits achieved with GM insect release but without needing to release GM insects.” He conceptualised the experiment with PhD scholar Siba Das and molecular biology professor Michael Smanski. The results were published in November 2020. In a typical control intervention, researchers release sterile male mosquitoes into the environment. These compete with wild males to mate with wild females. Mosquitoes mate only once in their lifetime. Since mating with sterile mosquitoes produces no offspring, the local mosquito population begins to fall. The methods to select these male mosquitoes to subsequently release are either labour intensive or need specialised equipment. The colony that scientists rear is also often three times larger than the number of males released. Third, a mosquito lives typically for 8-10 days. So scientists must select the males to release close to the site of intervention.
CRISPR and the splice to survive: New gene-editing technology could be used to save species from extinction—or to eliminate them.
16011E. Kolbert, New Yorker, 2021-01-11 14:25:59.
About a year ago, not long before the pandemic began, I paid a visit to the center, which is an hour southwest of Melbourne. The draw was an experiment on a species of giant toad known familiarly as the cane toad. The toad was introduced to Australia as an agent of pest control, but it promptly got out of control itself, producing an ecological disaster. Researchers at the A.C.D.P. were hoping to put the toad back in the bottle, as it were, using crispr.
Self-Deleting Genes Project To Tackle Mosquito-Borne Diseases
15923D. Ozdemir, INTERESTING ENGINEERING, 2021-01-08 18:58:57.
Did you know that mosquitoes kill at least 725,000 persons every year? They truly are one of the world's deadliest animals which is the reason why scientists from all around are trying to find new ways of dealing with them. Controlling mosquito populations and preventing them from transmitting disease at times through genetic engineering is one way of doing that. Now, a new Texas A&M AgriLife Research project has plans of enabling "test runs" of the proposed changes in mosquitoes that are automatically deleted from their genetic code. Researchers have used genetic engineering in the past to modify mosquitoes in a way that they pass on infertility, don't grow wings, can't spread malaria, or have impaired smell. However, as New Atlas reports, this sort of modification can have harmful consequences that may be impossible to reverse when released into the wild.
Selfish elements turn embryos into a battlefield
Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Phys Org, 2021-01-07 19:24:45.The battle to survive is fought down to the level of our genes. Toxin-antidote elements are gene pairs that spread in populations by killing non-carriers. Now, research by the Burga lab at IMBA and the Kruglyak lab at the University of California, Los Angeles shows that these elements are more common in nature than first thought and have evolved a wide range of mechanisms to force their inheritance and propagate in populations—a parasite within the genome. The results are published in the journal Current Biology. Originally described in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, toxin-antidote elements consist of two linked genes, a toxin and its antidote. While the toxin is loaded into eggs by mothers, only embryos that inherit the element express the antidote. Thus, the offspring must inherit the element to survive. In this way, toxin-antidote pairs promote their own survival and spread in the population. This comes at great expense of their host's fitness—a quarter of their progeny, those that don't inherit the element, fall prey to the toxin.
ARS Science Key to Stopping ‘Man-Eating’ Parasite
15973S. Elliott, Tellus, 2021-01-04 19:30:15.
Screwworm infestations were once prevalent in the United States, with 230,000 cases reported in 1935 alone. ARS scientists Edward Knipling and Raymond Bushland conceived and developed the sterile insect technique (SIT) to control and eradicate screwworms. With SIT, sterilized male blow flies were released to breed with wild flies. Since female blow flies mate only once, the coupling effectively removed that female and her potential offspring from the population.
The New Yorker Magazine: Gene Drives as a Tool for Saving Nature
16277E. Heber, Island Conservation, 2021-01-03 17:07:04.
In a recent New Yorker Magazine article, entitled “CRISPR and the Splice to Survive,” journalist and best-selling author Elizabeth Kolbert dives into the world of gene drive research. She touches on aspects of gene drive research from altering the toxin produced by cane toads to recovering nearly-extinct trees to eradicating invasive mice through attrition, all to understand the possibilities this tool could hold.
His Passion Was Contagious
15928D. C. McCool, Notre Dame Magazine, 2021-01-01 19:03:35.
Craig was an entomologist and vector biologist whose interest in mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit to people was as contagious as the pathogens themselves. Hesburgh could not have chosen a more driven faculty member. In his 38 years at Notre Dame, before he died in 1995 at an Entomology Society of America conference in Las Vegas, Craig cultivated a legacy in a field that was in its infancy. His personality attracted even more people dedicated to eliminating mosquito-borne diseases, and the circle widened in unexpected ways. The Chicago native directed more than 40 doctoral students and mentored 38 postdoctoral researchers. He created Notre Dame’s Vector Biology Laboratory — vectors pass diseases from one organism to another — with a focus on the Aedes genus of mosquitoes. He became Notre Dame’s first member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS). And he developed a program that has turned out hundreds of new field biologists who have gone onto careers in academia and public health.
Edit, undo: Temporary gene editing could help solve the mosquito problem
15900L. Dormehl, digitaltrends, 2020-12-31 14:22:29.
But if SyFy original movies have taught us anything, it’s that genetically tweaking organisms and then releasing them can… well, not go quite according to plan.With that in mind, a new Texas A&M AgriLife Research project seeks to test out genetic modifications of mosquitos that would delete themselves from the genetic code after a certain period. This means that “test runs” of genetic changes could be made, knowing that everything will reset to normal after a designated period like one year (which equates to around 20 generations of mosquito).
Self-deleting genes promise risk-free genetic engineering of mosquitoes
15852D. Quick, New Atlas, 2020-12-29 18:53:49.
A new project by Texas A&M AgriLife Research is looking to enable "test runs" of genetic changes to mosquitoes that are automatically deleted. Various angles of attack using genetic engineering to combat mosquitoes have been pursued in recent years, including modifying them so they pass on infertility, don't grow wings, can't spread malaria or have impaired smell. But making genetic modifications to an organism and then releasing them into the wild runs the risk of unintended and harmful consequences that may be difficult to reverse. That's where the new Texas A&M AgriLife Research project comes in. It is looking to enable "test runs" of genetic modifications that would then automatically be deleted from the mosquitoes' genetic code after a period of time.
Self-deleting genes to be tested as part of mosquito population control concept
15926B. Hays, UPI, 2020-12-28 18:59:14.
Scientists at Texas A&M have developed a new technique for altering the genes of mosquitoes -- the new technology will cause genetic changes to self-delete from the mosquitoes' genome. Thanks to the breakthrough, described Monday in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, researchers can now test-run experimental gene edits without permanently altering a mosquito's genome."People are wary of transgenes spreading in the environment in an uncontrolled manner. We feel that ours is a strategy to potentially prevent that from happening," Zach Adelman, professor of entomology at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture, said in a news release. "The idea is, can we program a transgene to remove itself? Then, the gene won't persist in the environment."
$3.9M project on self-deleting genes takes aim at mosquito-borne diseases
15847O. Kuchment, AGRILIFE Today, 2020-12-28 18:52:03.
To control mosquito populations and prevent them from transmitting diseases such as malaria, many researchers are pursuing strategies in mosquito genetic engineering. A new Texas A&M AgriLife Research project aims to enable temporary “test runs” of proposed genetic changes in mosquitoes, after which the changes remove themselves from the mosquitoes’ genetic code. The project’s first results were published on Dec. 28 in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, titled “Making gene drive biodegradable.”
Self-deleting genes tested as part of the concept of mosquito population control
15844charlottelarson, NEWYORK NEWS TIMES, 2020-12-28 18:49:28.
Most genetic engineering strategies designed to control mosquito populations, and their ability to spread diseases such as malaria, require gene editing to be combined with gene drives. Gene drives allow altered DNA to spread rapidly throughout the population.
New GE unintentionally leaves traces in cells
15620C. Then, Testbiotech, 2020-12-18 16:22:58.
A new scientific publication shows that CRISPR/Cas gene scissor applications in animals unintentionally leave traces. The findings are not related to unintended changes in the DNA, which have often been described, but to gene regulation, i.e. epigenetics. The effects are heritable and may, for example, result in disruption of embryonic development. The new scientific publication describes CRISPR/Cas experiments with mice in which their DNA is cut and additional genetic information inserted. Besides intended changes in DNA in the target region, the findings also showed unintended changes in so-called epigenetic markers that control gene regulation. The effects were heritable and could still be identified after ten generations. According to the authors, the effects can also be used to identify CRISPR/Cas gene scissor applications.
Converting female mosquitoes to non-biting males with implications for mosquito control
15614M. V. Candy, Vet Candy, 2020-12-18 15:57:05.
Virginia Tech researchers have proven that a single gene can convert female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes into fertile male mosquitoes and identified a gene needed for male mosquito flight. Male mosquitoes do not bite and are unable to transmit pathogens to humans. Female mosquitoes, on the other hand, are able to bite. Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes require blood to produce eggs, making them the prime carriers of the pathogens that cause Zika and dengue fever in humans. "The presence of a male-determining locus (M locus) establishes the male sex in Aedes aegypti and the M locus is only inherited by the male offspring, much like the human Y chromosome," said Zhijian Tu, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. "By inserting Nix, a previously discovered male-determining gene in the M locus of Aedes aegypti, into a chromosomal region that can be inherited by females, we showed that Nix alone was sufficient to convert females to fertile males. This may have implications for developing future mosquito control techniques." These findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
New insect species made via genetic engineering
15610L. Leffer, SCIENCELINE, 2020-12-18 15:47:16.
A biotech fast-forward button for evolution is on the horizon. Researchers say they have used a novel genetic engineering method to create several new species of fruit fly in the lab for the first time — an achievement which might help put a future without malaria and other insect-borne diseases within reach. The approach, called synthetic speciation, could prove useful in creating safer pest-control technologies, says Maciej Maselko, a postdoctoral fellow studying synthetic biology at Macquarie University. In one far-off scenario, according to Maselko, synthetic speciation might even be applied to generate designer organisms that could pollinate plants or even detect landmines. Maselko and his team published their findings September 8 in Nature Communications. “Speciation has occurred billions of times on the planet, but hasn’t been engineerable [before],” says Michael Smanski, a molecular biologist at the University of Minnesota and member of the research team. Maselko, Smanski and their colleagues have previously used a similar method to engineer “species like” differences in yeast in 2018, but their more recent results are the first time the concept has been proven possible in a multicellular animal. This method could produce untold numbers of new animal varieties within months rather than millennia, Smanski says.
Scientists paved the way for field trials of gene-driven organisms
15559K. Winslet, FLORIDA News Times, 2020-12-17 15:01:59.
The recent rise of gene drive research, accelerated by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, has brought about a wave of transformation throughout science.Developed with selected traits that have been genetically engineered to spread throughout the population, Gene Drive Organisms (GDOs) provide solutions to a variety of difficult health and environmental challenges, from control to protection of dengue and malaria. A crop against plant pests that has the power to dramatically change the way it develops.But before these gene-drive organisms move from laboratory to field testing, scientists are proposing courses for responsible testing of this powerful technology. These issues are addressed in the new Policy Forum article on Biotechnology Governance, “Core Commitment for Field Trials of Gene Drive Organisms,” published December 18, 2020. Science By more than 40 researchers, including several scientists at the University of California, San Diego.“Gene drives have led to rapid research, so we need to take a step back and think about its application and its impact on humankind,” said Akbari, the lead author of the article. Associate Professor, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego. “A new initiative to tackle field testing is to ensure that testing is conducted safely, transparent, publicly accountable, and scientifically, politically and socially robust.”
Technical Support to Burkina Faso on Gene Drive Stage 2 Dossier Review
15557AUDA-NEPAD, AUDA-NEPAD, 2020-12-17 14:58:32.
AUDA-NEPAD in partnership with the National Biosafety Agency (ANB) in Burkina Faso organised a training workshop to support to the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) on stage 2 dossier review, on December 3 – 5, 2020, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. In addition to the NBC members, and based on recommendations from previous in-country consultations, the meeting audience was extended to include researchers, faculty members and PhD students. The meeting brought together 25 participants. Amongst the countries piloting the gene drive research in the continent, Burkina Faso has successfully completed the activities in stage 1 of the process nd is now contemplating to commence stage 2. An application has been prepared and submitted to the national regulatory agency, following a successful pre-review by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
Scientists Set a Path for Field Trials of Gene Drive Organisms
15551M. Aguilera, UC San Diego News Center, 2020-12-17 14:41:55.
The modern rise of gene drive research, accelerated by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, has led to transformational waves rippling across science. Gene drive organisms (GDOs), developed with select traits that are genetically engineered to spread through a population, have the power to dramatically alter the way society develops solutions to a range of daunting health and environmental challenges, from controlling dengue fever and malaria to protecting crops against plant pests. But before these gene drive organisms move from the laboratory to testing in the field, scientists are proposing a course for responsible testing of this powerful technology. These issues are addressed in a new Policy Forum article on biotechnology governance, “Core commitments for field trials of gene drive organisms,” published Dec. 18, 2020 in Science by more than 40 researchers, including several University of California San Diego scientists.
Fear of Oxitec mosquito release grows
15541T. Java, Florida Keys Free Press, 2020-12-16 20:11:11.
A local effort has emerged to exclude Key Largo from a test release of genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes planned for the spring. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District have approved a release of United Kingdom-based biotech company Oxitec’s GMO insects in an effort to battle the disease-carrying wild mosquito population by effectively breeding it out of existence.
