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Genetic engineering

On the road to efficient gene drives

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 18, page 704 (2017)Cite this article

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as it spreads across the mosquito population, the gene drive reduces reproductive potential

Because of their selfish nature, gene drives inserted into one allele can — through the activity of their encoded nuclease — integrate into the homologous chromosome, thereby favouring their own inheritance. The CRISPR–Cas9-based gene drive used in the current work specifically targets and disrupts a haplosufficient mosquito gene required for female fertility. Thus, as it spreads across the mosquito population, the gene drive reduces reproductive potential.

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References

  1. Hammond, A. M. et al. The creation and selection of mutations resistant to a gene drive over multiple generations in the malaria mosquito. PLoS Genet. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1007039 (2017)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Editor, Nature Communications,

    Michelle Trenkmann

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  1. Michelle Trenkmann
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Related links in Nature Research

Champer, J. et al. Cheating evolution: engineering gene drives to manipulate the fate of wild populations. Nat. Rev. Genet. 17, 146–159 (2016)

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Trenkmann, M. On the road to efficient gene drives. Nat Rev Genet 18, 704 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg.2017.91

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