Figure 3
From: A CRISPR-Cas9 sex-ratio distortion system for genetic control
CRISPRSD system: design and applications.
(a) The RNA-guided Cas9 is expressed from an autosomal location and gives male bias by shredding a species-specific repetitive gene sequence conserved on the X-chromosome (any endonuclease such as TALENs, ZFN or HEG could be suitable for the purpose). The X-shredding construct is inherited only by half of the progeny and it would require inundative releases to suppress or eliminate a pest population13. (b) CRISPR-Cas9 can be multiplexed to target conserved gene sequences present in one or few copies on the X-chromosome10,11,12. (c) The endonuclease is placed onto the Y-chromosome and is therefore inherited by the entire male offspring. In doing so, even a small scale release would be self-sustaining and supress the population15,16,17,18.
