This is not the latest version of this item. The latest version can be found here.
Harnessing gene drive
Name
Harnessing gene drive.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
3.29 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
529371340c8f0e488a64cdc2c23420a9
Author(s) • • •
Min, John
Smidler, Andrea L
Najjar, Devora
Esvelt, Kevin M
Date Issued
2018
Journal
Journal of Responsible Innovation
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Version
Final published version
Abstract
© 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. When scientists alter the genome of an organism, we typically reduce its ability to reproduce in the wild. This limitation has prevented researchers from rendering wild insects unable to spread disease, programing pests to ignore our crops, using genetics to precisely remove environmentally damaging invasive species, and much more. Gene drive occurs when a vertically transmitted genetic element reliably spreads through a population over generations despite providing no reproductive advantage to each host organism. Until recently, scientific efforts to take advantage of this natural phenomenon achieved only limited success. The advent of CRISPR genome editing has dramatically accelerated efforts to harness gene drive. Small groups of scientists may now be capable of unilaterally altering entire wild populations, and through them, the shared environment. Determining whether, when, and how to develop gene drive interventions responsibly will be a defining challenge of our time. Here we describe capabilities, safeguards, applications, and opportunities relevant to gene drive technologies.
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
10.1080/23299460.2017.1415586