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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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Series: | Applied Biosciences |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:59:51Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-b58e278ef62546fc9a9b4fc1d6ff5707 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2813-0464 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:59:51Z |
publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Applied Biosciences |
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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