Table 1 Comparison of performance of gene-drive and sex-distorter genetic control approaches in terms of efficacy, spread and robustness

From: A male-biased sex-distorter gene drive for the human malaria vector Anopheles gambiae

Construct type

Construct name

Homing rate

Male-biased sex-ratio distortion

Spread in caged population

Population suppression

Development of resistance in cages

Impact of heterozygotes on population sizea

Component redundancy

Ref.

Gene drive

dsxFCRISPRh

92% males; 99% females

50%

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

17

Sex-distorter gene drive

SDGDdsx

92% males; 99% females

93%

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

This study

Autosomal sex distorter

gfp111A-2

0%

95%

No

Yes (over-flooding ratio of 3×)

No

Yes

No

13

Y drive

NA

100% males; 0% females*

95%*

Yes*

NA

NA

Yes*

No

NA

  1. Homing rate is defined as the fraction of transgenic progeny above Mendelian inheritance. An asterisk denotes values based on a hypothetical X-shredder construct inserted on the Y chromosome generating 95% male offspring, all of which inherit the transgene. NA, not applicable. aAbility of the construct to have an impact on the population size (that is, the number of females) in heterozygosity (or hemizygosity for the Y drive) as compared to constructs targeting recessive female fertility loci, which impact population size when homozygote transgenic females are generated.
Back to article page