Keywords: squirrel

How sci-fi weapon could stop grey squirrels killing Britain’s trees

rymeradelle,  INentertainment,  2021.
Grey squirrels pose the greatest threat to British foresters at the moment. They eat the bark of trees, leaving them to die. Picture: Grey squirrel perched on a tree It’s bad enough watching Britain’s ash trees wither from the ash dieback fungus now ravaging our countryside. ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Gene-Editing Approach To Control the Invasive Gray Squirrel

M. Campbell,  Technology Networks,  2021.
Biodiversity refers to the extent of the variety of life that is found on planet Earth – and it is currently under threat. Changes in biodiversity have been flagged as "surpassing safe limits" for several years, and world leaders and scientists across the globe are consequently ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Ecology: Gene drives may help control invasive grey squirrel in the UK

A. Korn,  EurekaAlert,  2021.
Gene drives introduce genes into a population that have been changed to induce infertility in females, allowing for the control of population size. However, they face technical challenges, such as controlling the spread of altered genes as gene drive individuals mate with wild ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Genetically modified squirrels could curb growing population of greys

S. Knapton,  Telegraph,  2021.
Mutant grey squirrels, genetically modified to spread infertility genes, could be released into the wild to tackle the burgeoning population,
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Expert reaction to a paper suggesting that gene drives could be used to help control grey squirrel numbers in the UK

Anonymous,  Science Media Centre,  2021.
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 ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

CRISPR gene drives may come to a squirrel near you.

Anonymous,  NewsBeezer,  2021.
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 ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

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

N. R. Faber, G. R. McFarlane, R. C. Gaynor, I. Pocrnic, C. B. A. Whitelaw and G. Gorjanc,  Scientific Reports,  11:3719. 2021.
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. HD-ClvR combats resistance allele formation by combining a homing gene drive with a cleave-and-rescue gene ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Grey squirrels: is birth control the solution to Britain’s invasive species problem?

J. Gilchrist,  The Conversation,  2021.
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 ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Why the UK could end up deploying risky gene drives while ignoring natural biological control

J. Mathews,  GM Watch,  2020.
First they cloned Dolly the sheep. Now they’re targeting grey squirrels
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

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

N. R. Faber, G. R. McFarlane, R. C. Gaynor, I. Pocrnic, C. B. A. Whitelaw and G. Gorjanc,  bioRxiv,  2020.
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 ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

What squirrels can teach us about why, when, and how to use gene drives

Rebecca Nesbit,  synbiobeta,  2020.
As the last ice age drew to a close, red squirrels made Britain their home. They adapted to a changing landscape and thrived as the UK’s only squirrel species. That all changed in 1876 when grey squirrels were introduced to England from North America as an ornamental species in ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Can CRISPR Save Tufty Fluffytail?

L. Tracey,  JSTOR Daily,  2020.
The native red squirrel population in the UK has been decimated by the encroachment of its American cousin, an invasive species. Could a “gene drive” hel
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Mosquitoes Genetically Engineered To Resist Dengue Fever

R. Bailey,  reason,  2020.
Gene drives could spread this beneficial trait through wild mosquito populations.
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

DNA ‘edit’ that could wipe out grey invaders

Levy, A.,  Scottish Daily Mail,  2020.
It is the big, brash invasive species whose advance has left the native red squirrel clinging on for survival in areas where once it thrived. But the march of the grey squirrel could be halted by a 'gene drive', say researchers at the laboratory responsible for Dolly the sheep.
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Red squirrels to thrive again in Britain as new plan considered to eradicate grey breed

Hudson, W.,  Express,  2020.
RED SQUIRRELS could soon be thriving in Britain again as a new plan to put an end to destructive grey squirrels is being developed. The 150 year reign of the grey squirrel could come to a halt from DNA editing to ensure all future females are born infertile. Researchers at the ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Scientists want to hack grey squirrels to death

Cutlack, C.,  Gizmodo,  2020.
Scottish scientists are planning to hack the DNA of the often-hated grey squirrel, in hope that selectively breeding a broken female strain could lead to their eventual eradication from the wild. It's the only way a map of Scotland is likely to turn red in the foreseeable future.
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Scientists behind Dolly the sheep want to edit squirrel DNA to get rid of greys and protect reds UK

Bedoya, D.,  Inforsurhoy,  2020.
The scientists who cloned Dolly the sheep are now targeting grey squirrels in a bid to rid Britain of them altogether.
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

First they cloned Dolly the sheep. Now they’re targeting grey squirrels

Leake, J.,  The Times,  2020.
For 150 years they have wreaked havoc on Britain’s woods and wildlife, but the destructive reign of the grey squirrel could soon be over — ended by DNA editing to ensure that all future females are born infertile. Researchers at the Roslin Institute, the genetics laboratory ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,

Dolly the sheep scientists hope DNA editing can wipe out grey squirrels

McLaughlin, M.,  The Scotsman,  2020.
They have been poisoned, shot at, and stumbled into traps laid by those who regard them as a ruinous blight on the country’s woodland and wildlife. But now, the grey squirrel is facing arguably its biggest threat yet, with plans to harness the cutting edge of genetic science ...
Keywords: , , , , , , , , ,