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Credit: James Gathany
Scientists have proposed that gene drives might be used to combat malaria and other insect-borne diseases, control invasive species, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Engineered gene drives are genetic systems that circumvent traditional rules of sexual reproduction and greatly increase the odds that the drive will be passed on to offspring.
This enables the spread of specified genetic alterations through targeted wild populations over many generations.
Gene drives represent a potentially powerful tool to confront regional or global challenges, including the control of invasive species and eradication of insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.
The idea is not new, but a team of researchers has now outlined a technically feasible way to build gene drives that might spread almost any genomic change through populations of sexually reproducing species.
“We all rely on healthy ecosystems and share a responsibility to keep them intact for future generations,” said Kevin Esvelt, PhD, of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University in Boston.
“Given the broad potential of gene drives to address ecological problems, we hope to initiate a transparent, inclusive, and informed public discussion—well in advance of any testing—to collectively decide how we might use this technology for the betterment of humanity and the environment.”
Dr Esvelt and his colleagues have initiated this discussion by publishing papers on gene drives in Science and eLife.
The eLife paper describes the proposed technical methods of building gene drives in different species, defines their theoretical capabilities and limitations, and outlines possible applications.
The Science paper provides an initial assessment of potential environmental and security effects, an analysis of regulatory coverage, and recommendations to ensure responsible development and testing prior to use.
The new technical work in eLife builds upon research by Austin Burt, PhD, of Imperial College London in the UK, who, more than a decade ago, first proposed using a type of gene drive based on cutting DNA to alter populations.
The authors noted that the gene editing tool CRISPR—which is used to precisely insert, replace, and regulate genes—now makes it feasible to create gene drives that work in many different species.
“Our proposal represents a potentially powerful ecosystem management tool for global sustainability, but one that carries with it new concerns, as with any emerging technology,” said George Church, PhD, also of the Wyss Institute.
Dr Esvelt noted that the genomic changes made by gene drives should be reversible. The team has outlined in the eLife publication numerous precautionary measures intended to guide the safe and responsible development of gene drives, many of which were not possible with earlier technologies.
“If the public ever considers making use of a gene drive, we will need to develop appropriate safeguards,” he said. “Ensuring that we have a working reversal drive on hand to quickly undo the proposed genomic change would be one such precaution.”
Because the drives can spread traits only over generations, they will be most effective in species that reproduce quickly or can be released in large numbers, the researchers noted.
For insects, it could take only a couple of years to see a desired change in the population at large, while slower-reproducing organisms would require much longer. Altering human populations would require many centuries.
Gene drives could strike a powerful blow against malaria by altering mosquito populations so they can no longer spread the disease, according to the researchers.
Gene drives might also be used to rid local environments of invasive species or to pave the way toward more sustainable agriculture by reversing mutations that allow particular weed species, such as horseweed, to resist herbicides that are important for no-till farming.
However, the innovative nature of gene drives poses regulatory challenges.
“Simply put, gene drives do not fit comfortably within existing US regulations and international conventions,” said Kenneth Oye, PhD, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.
“For example, animal applications of gene drives would be regulated by the FDA as veterinary medicines. Potential implications of gene drives fall beyond the purview of the lists of bacteriological and viral agents that now define security regimes. We’ll need both regulatory reform and public engagement before we can consider beneficial uses. That is why we are excited about getting the conversation on gene drives going early.” 
Credit: James Gathany
Scientists have proposed that gene drives might be used to combat malaria and other insect-borne diseases, control invasive species, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Engineered gene drives are genetic systems that circumvent traditional rules of sexual reproduction and greatly increase the odds that the drive will be passed on to offspring.
This enables the spread of specified genetic alterations through targeted wild populations over many generations.
Gene drives represent a potentially powerful tool to confront regional or global challenges, including the control of invasive species and eradication of insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.
The idea is not new, but a team of researchers has now outlined a technically feasible way to build gene drives that might spread almost any genomic change through populations of sexually reproducing species.
“We all rely on healthy ecosystems and share a responsibility to keep them intact for future generations,” said Kevin Esvelt, PhD, of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University in Boston.
“Given the broad potential of gene drives to address ecological problems, we hope to initiate a transparent, inclusive, and informed public discussion—well in advance of any testing—to collectively decide how we might use this technology for the betterment of humanity and the environment.”
Dr Esvelt and his colleagues have initiated this discussion by publishing papers on gene drives in Science and eLife.
The eLife paper describes the proposed technical methods of building gene drives in different species, defines their theoretical capabilities and limitations, and outlines possible applications.
The Science paper provides an initial assessment of potential environmental and security effects, an analysis of regulatory coverage, and recommendations to ensure responsible development and testing prior to use.
The new technical work in eLife builds upon research by Austin Burt, PhD, of Imperial College London in the UK, who, more than a decade ago, first proposed using a type of gene drive based on cutting DNA to alter populations.
The authors noted that the gene editing tool CRISPR—which is used to precisely insert, replace, and regulate genes—now makes it feasible to create gene drives that work in many different species.
“Our proposal represents a potentially powerful ecosystem management tool for global sustainability, but one that carries with it new concerns, as with any emerging technology,” said George Church, PhD, also of the Wyss Institute.
Dr Esvelt noted that the genomic changes made by gene drives should be reversible. The team has outlined in the eLife publication numerous precautionary measures intended to guide the safe and responsible development of gene drives, many of which were not possible with earlier technologies.
“If the public ever considers making use of a gene drive, we will need to develop appropriate safeguards,” he said. “Ensuring that we have a working reversal drive on hand to quickly undo the proposed genomic change would be one such precaution.”
Because the drives can spread traits only over generations, they will be most effective in species that reproduce quickly or can be released in large numbers, the researchers noted.
For insects, it could take only a couple of years to see a desired change in the population at large, while slower-reproducing organisms would require much longer. Altering human populations would require many centuries.
Gene drives could strike a powerful blow against malaria by altering mosquito populations so they can no longer spread the disease, according to the researchers.
Gene drives might also be used to rid local environments of invasive species or to pave the way toward more sustainable agriculture by reversing mutations that allow particular weed species, such as horseweed, to resist herbicides that are important for no-till farming.
However, the innovative nature of gene drives poses regulatory challenges.
“Simply put, gene drives do not fit comfortably within existing US regulations and international conventions,” said Kenneth Oye, PhD, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.
“For example, animal applications of gene drives would be regulated by the FDA as veterinary medicines. Potential implications of gene drives fall beyond the purview of the lists of bacteriological and viral agents that now define security regimes. We’ll need both regulatory reform and public engagement before we can consider beneficial uses. That is why we are excited about getting the conversation on gene drives going early.”
Credit: James Gathany
Scientists have proposed that gene drives might be used to combat malaria and other insect-borne diseases, control invasive species, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Engineered gene drives are genetic systems that circumvent traditional rules of sexual reproduction and greatly increase the odds that the drive will be passed on to offspring.
This enables the spread of specified genetic alterations through targeted wild populations over many generations.
Gene drives represent a potentially powerful tool to confront regional or global challenges, including the control of invasive species and eradication of insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.
The idea is not new, but a team of researchers has now outlined a technically feasible way to build gene drives that might spread almost any genomic change through populations of sexually reproducing species.
“We all rely on healthy ecosystems and share a responsibility to keep them intact for future generations,” said Kevin Esvelt, PhD, of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University in Boston.
“Given the broad potential of gene drives to address ecological problems, we hope to initiate a transparent, inclusive, and informed public discussion—well in advance of any testing—to collectively decide how we might use this technology for the betterment of humanity and the environment.”
Dr Esvelt and his colleagues have initiated this discussion by publishing papers on gene drives in Science and eLife.
The eLife paper describes the proposed technical methods of building gene drives in different species, defines their theoretical capabilities and limitations, and outlines possible applications.
The Science paper provides an initial assessment of potential environmental and security effects, an analysis of regulatory coverage, and recommendations to ensure responsible development and testing prior to use.
The new technical work in eLife builds upon research by Austin Burt, PhD, of Imperial College London in the UK, who, more than a decade ago, first proposed using a type of gene drive based on cutting DNA to alter populations.
The authors noted that the gene editing tool CRISPR—which is used to precisely insert, replace, and regulate genes—now makes it feasible to create gene drives that work in many different species.
“Our proposal represents a potentially powerful ecosystem management tool for global sustainability, but one that carries with it new concerns, as with any emerging technology,” said George Church, PhD, also of the Wyss Institute.
Dr Esvelt noted that the genomic changes made by gene drives should be reversible. The team has outlined in the eLife publication numerous precautionary measures intended to guide the safe and responsible development of gene drives, many of which were not possible with earlier technologies.
“If the public ever considers making use of a gene drive, we will need to develop appropriate safeguards,” he said. “Ensuring that we have a working reversal drive on hand to quickly undo the proposed genomic change would be one such precaution.”
Because the drives can spread traits only over generations, they will be most effective in species that reproduce quickly or can be released in large numbers, the researchers noted.
For insects, it could take only a couple of years to see a desired change in the population at large, while slower-reproducing organisms would require much longer. Altering human populations would require many centuries.
Gene drives could strike a powerful blow against malaria by altering mosquito populations so they can no longer spread the disease, according to the researchers.
Gene drives might also be used to rid local environments of invasive species or to pave the way toward more sustainable agriculture by reversing mutations that allow particular weed species, such as horseweed, to resist herbicides that are important for no-till farming.
However, the innovative nature of gene drives poses regulatory challenges.
“Simply put, gene drives do not fit comfortably within existing US regulations and international conventions,” said Kenneth Oye, PhD, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.
“For example, animal applications of gene drives would be regulated by the FDA as veterinary medicines. Potential implications of gene drives fall beyond the purview of the lists of bacteriological and viral agents that now define security regimes. We’ll need both regulatory reform and public engagement before we can consider beneficial uses. That is why we are excited about getting the conversation on gene drives going early.”