Chromosome Rearrangements for the Control of Insect Pests

Using underdominance to bi-stably transform local populations

“…This is partially because the genetically modified homozygous individuals suffered from dramatically reduced fitness relative to wildtypes (e.g. Foster et al (1972); Lorimer et al (1972); Boussy (1988) and references therein; see also Harewood et al (2010)). However, with new, more precise molecular genetic technologies, there is a growing interest in systems, including underdominance, that have the capacity to transform wild populations (Davis et al, 2001;Sinkins and Gould, 2006;Magori and Gould, 2006;Gould, 2008).…”

Modeling the Manipulation of Natural Populations by the Mutagenic Chain Reaction

“…Finally, a mutation might be deleterious regardless of environment. This last scenario is similar to sterile male techniques that have been discussed for decades (Foster et al 1972;Prout 1978;Bourtzis and Hendrichs 2014). For example, a life-shortening mutation in mosquitoes that does not allow for a complete incubation period for Dengue virus could severely reduce transmission rates.…”

“…With few exceptions (Hoffmann et al 2011), the practicality of such introductions has been limited by the lack of a means to ensure the spread of the engineered genetic material through a population. In a recent article, Gantz and Bier (2015) describe the mutagenic chain reaction (MCR), an approach that employs the CRISPR/Cas9 system to drive a mutation to high frequency in a population, making gene replacement at the population level practical for any species that can be made to accept a transgene in the laboratory.There is, in fact, an extensive literature on "gene drive" systems that can transform entire populations (reviewed in Sinkins and Gould 2006, Gould 2008, and Burt 2014 and going back to Curtis 1968and Foster et al 1972. The work of Burt and colleagues (Burt 2003;Deredec et al 2008;North et al 2013) considering the population genetics of homing endonucleases as a means to transform entire populations is particularly relevant, and much of what we describe below is a specific application of the general principles developed earlier and applied to MCR.…”

“…There is, in fact, an extensive literature on "gene drive" systems that can transform entire populations (reviewed in Sinkins and Gould 2006, Gould 2008, and Burt 2014 and going back to Curtis 1968 andFoster et al 1972). The work of Burt and colleagues (Burt 2003;Deredec et al 2008;North et al 2013) considering the population genetics of homing endonucleases as a means to transform entire populations is particularly relevant, and much of what we describe below is a specific application of the general principles developed earlier and applied to MCR.…”

Evolution of Resistance Against CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Drive

“…Our results shed light on strategies that could facilitate the engineering of drivers with lower resistance potential, and motivate the possibility to embrace resistance as a possible mechanism for controlling a CGD approach. This study highlights the need for careful modeling of the population dynamics of CGD prior to the actual release of a driver construct into the wild.KEYWORDS CRISPR/Cas9; gene drive; homing drive; mutagenic chain reaction; whole population replacement T HE prospect of driving genetically modified alleles to fixation in a population has enticed scientists for .40 years (Curtis 1968;Foster et al 1972). Potential applications are broad and ambitious, including the eradication of vectorborne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and Zika (Burt 2003;Esvelt et al 2014;Champer et al 2016).…”