Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?

Through genome editing and other techniques of gene technology, it is possible to create a class of organism called null segregants. These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are products of gene technology but are argued to have no lingering vestige of the technology after the segregation of chro...

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Main Authors: Jack A. Heinemann, Katrin Clark, Tessa C. Hiscox, Andrew W. McCabe, Sarah Z. Agapito-Tenfen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Genome Editing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgeed.2022.1064103/full
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author Jack A. Heinemann
Katrin Clark
Tessa C. Hiscox
Andrew W. McCabe
Sarah Z. Agapito-Tenfen
author_facet Jack A. Heinemann
Katrin Clark
Tessa C. Hiscox
Andrew W. McCabe
Sarah Z. Agapito-Tenfen
author_sort Jack A. Heinemann
collection DOAJ
description Through genome editing and other techniques of gene technology, it is possible to create a class of organism called null segregants. These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are products of gene technology but are argued to have no lingering vestige of the technology after the segregation of chromosomes or deletion of insertions. From that viewpoint regulations are redundant because any unique potential for the use of gene technology to cause harm has also been removed. We tackle this question of international interest by reviewing the early history of the purpose of gene technology regulation. The active ingredients of techniques used for guided mutagenesis, e.g., site-directed nucleases, such as CRISPR/Cas, are promoted for having a lower potential per reaction to create a hazard. However, others see this as a desirable industrial property of the reagents that will lead to genome editing being used more and nullifying the promised hazard mitigation. The contest between views revolves around whether regulations could alter the risks in the responsible use of gene technology. We conclude that gene technology, even when used to make null segregants, has characteristics that make regulation a reasonable option for mitigating potential harm. Those characteristics are that it allows people to create more harm faster, even if it creates benefits as well; the potential for harm increases with increased use of the technique, but safety does not; and regulations can control harm scaling.
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spelling doaj.art-4216cee38a2148c2a91a60a91d58c2432023-01-10T18:49:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genome Editing2673-34392023-01-01410.3389/fgeed.2022.10641031064103Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?Jack A. Heinemann0Katrin Clark1Tessa C. Hiscox2Andrew W. McCabe3Sarah Z. Agapito-Tenfen4Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandCentre for Integrated Research in Biosafety and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandCentre for Integrated Research in Biosafety and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandCentre for Integrated Research in Biosafety and School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New ZealandClimate and Environment Division, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, Tromsø, NorwayThrough genome editing and other techniques of gene technology, it is possible to create a class of organism called null segregants. These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are products of gene technology but are argued to have no lingering vestige of the technology after the segregation of chromosomes or deletion of insertions. From that viewpoint regulations are redundant because any unique potential for the use of gene technology to cause harm has also been removed. We tackle this question of international interest by reviewing the early history of the purpose of gene technology regulation. The active ingredients of techniques used for guided mutagenesis, e.g., site-directed nucleases, such as CRISPR/Cas, are promoted for having a lower potential per reaction to create a hazard. However, others see this as a desirable industrial property of the reagents that will lead to genome editing being used more and nullifying the promised hazard mitigation. The contest between views revolves around whether regulations could alter the risks in the responsible use of gene technology. We conclude that gene technology, even when used to make null segregants, has characteristics that make regulation a reasonable option for mitigating potential harm. Those characteristics are that it allows people to create more harm faster, even if it creates benefits as well; the potential for harm increases with increased use of the technique, but safety does not; and regulations can control harm scaling.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgeed.2022.1064103/fullrisk assessmentregulationscalegene technologynull/negative segregantssustainable development goal 12
spellingShingle Jack A. Heinemann
Katrin Clark
Tessa C. Hiscox
Andrew W. McCabe
Sarah Z. Agapito-Tenfen
Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?
Frontiers in Genome Editing
risk assessment
regulation
scale
gene technology
null/negative segregants
sustainable development goal 12
title Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?
title_full Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?
title_fullStr Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?
title_full_unstemmed Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?
title_short Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated?
title_sort are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated
topic risk assessment
regulation
scale
gene technology
null/negative segregants
sustainable development goal 12
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgeed.2022.1064103/full
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