Gene Drive Strategy: Over-Replication

When an allele (a form or variant of a gene) or chromosome is preferentially transmitted to the next generation, the allele or chromosome is said to be displaying drive or gene drive.

For most alleles and chromosomes transmission to the next generation is not biased or skewed relative to the other corresponding allele or chromosome present in the genome.  For alleles of some genes, some chromosomes and other genetic elements such as transposons transmission can be biased and skewed, resulting in drive.  One strategy for achieving this transmission advantage is for an allele to make copies of itself and to insert these copies on other chromosomes – referred to as over-replication.  This video illustrates how this strategy works.

This short video graphically illustrates the over-replication strategy for attaining a transmission advantage (drive).

This video does not have audio.