Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate Biocontrol

Scientists have long sought a technology to humanely control populations of damaging invasive pests in a species-specific manner. Gene drive technology could see this become a reality. This review charts the twists and turns on the road to developing gene drives in vertebrates. We focus on rodents,...

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Main Authors: Gus R. McFarlane, C. Bruce A. Whitelaw, Simon G. Lillico
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Applied Biosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0464/2/1/6
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author Gus R. McFarlane
C. Bruce A. Whitelaw
Simon G. Lillico
author_facet Gus R. McFarlane
C. Bruce A. Whitelaw
Simon G. Lillico
author_sort Gus R. McFarlane
collection DOAJ
description Scientists have long sought a technology to humanely control populations of damaging invasive pests in a species-specific manner. Gene drive technology could see this become a reality. This review charts the twists and turns on the road to developing gene drives in vertebrates. We focus on rodents, as these will likely be the first targets, and trace the journey from the early understanding of selfish genetic elements to engineering gene drives in mice; before discussing future research focuses and the crucial role that public perception and governance will play in the application of this technology. The realisation of robust gene drive strategies in vertebrate pests has the potential to revolutionise biocontrol.
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spelling doaj.art-b58e278ef62546fc9a9b4fc1d6ff57072023-11-17T09:19:44ZengMDPI AGApplied Biosciences2813-04642023-02-0121527010.3390/applbiosci2010006Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate BiocontrolGus R. McFarlane0C. Bruce A. Whitelaw1Simon G. Lillico2Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, AustraliaThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UKThe Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UKScientists have long sought a technology to humanely control populations of damaging invasive pests in a species-specific manner. Gene drive technology could see this become a reality. This review charts the twists and turns on the road to developing gene drives in vertebrates. We focus on rodents, as these will likely be the first targets, and trace the journey from the early understanding of selfish genetic elements to engineering gene drives in mice; before discussing future research focuses and the crucial role that public perception and governance will play in the application of this technology. The realisation of robust gene drive strategies in vertebrate pests has the potential to revolutionise biocontrol.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0464/2/1/6gene drivevertebratespestbiocontrolCRISPRgenetic engineering
spellingShingle Gus R. McFarlane
C. Bruce A. Whitelaw
Simon G. Lillico
Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate Biocontrol
Applied Biosciences
gene drive
vertebrates
pest
biocontrol
CRISPR
genetic engineering
title Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate Biocontrol
title_full Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate Biocontrol
title_fullStr Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate Biocontrol
title_full_unstemmed Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate Biocontrol
title_short Gene Drive: Past, Present and Future Roads to Vertebrate Biocontrol
title_sort gene drive past present and future roads to vertebrate biocontrol
topic gene drive
vertebrates
pest
biocontrol
CRISPR
genetic engineering
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0464/2/1/6
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AT simonglillico genedrivepastpresentandfutureroadstovertebratebiocontrol