The principles driving gene drives for conservation

Hartley, Sarah; Taitingfong, Riley; Fidelman, Pedro

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2022.04.021

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Launch of the Forum coincided with (was in part motivated by) publication of the Principles with a focus on funders of gene drive research, and since 2018 it has grown to also include a large contingent of researchers. Building on the momentum of the Principles, research groups have committed to similar principles [7][8][9] and work on ethics and governance has ramped up in alignment with the Principles [10][11][12][13][14] . The Forum encourages and enables transparency and consensus building and facilitates the establishment of community norms.…”

Section: Annual Gene Drive Research Forum: Principles At Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Taking stock: Is gene drive research delivering on its principles?

Roberts,

Hackett,

Coche

et al. 2024

Gates Open Res

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Gene drive technology has been recognized for its potential to provide durable and cost-effective solutions for previously intractable problems in public health, conservation, and agriculture. In recognition of the rapid advances in this field, in 2016 the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine issued a report making several recommendations aimed at researchers, funders, and policymakers for the safe and responsible research and development of gene drive technology. Subsequently, in 2017 sixteen global organizations self-identifying as sponsors and supporters of gene drive research became public signatories committed to the ‘Principles for Gene Drive Research’ which were inspired by the report’s recommendations. Herein we reflect on the progress of gene drive research in relation to the ethical principles laid out and committed to by the signatories to the Principles. Our analysis indicates high levels of alignment with the Principles in the field of gene drive research. The manuscript also discusses the Gene Drive Research Forum, which had its genesis in the publication of the Principles. Discussions between participants at the latest meeting of the Forum point to the work that lies ahead for gene drive research in line with the Principles. Going forward the gene drive research community can productively focus on: i) safety and efficacy criteria for open release, ii) risk assessment frameworks and methods, iii) more downstream technical, regulatory and policy considerations for field evaluations and implementation, iv) continued transparency and developing mechanisms of accountability, and v) strengthening capacity in locales of potential release and expected drive spread.

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Section: Annual Gene Drive Research Forum: Principles At Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The second Principle advises to promote stewardship, safety, and good governance. There have been several published works and coordination efforts advancing these goals over the last six years, and development along these lines continues 7,[11][12][13]25 .…”

Section: Looking Back: How Far Have We Come?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Taking stock: Is gene drive research delivering on its principles?

Roberts,

Hackett,

Coche

et al. 2024

Gates Open Res

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“…As with most novel technologies, genetic and gene drive technologies are not without risk, and there is a potential for inadvertent and unexpected outcomes. To maximize the benefits of genetic and gene drive technologies while minimizing potential harm, principles have been set to guide future work in the conservation field (187). In brief, the key principles outlined are to ensure tools used for conservation applications 1) have public and expert approval, 2) state and international governance, 3) a broad consideration of ethical and moral systems, and 4) developers of the technology must self regulate the development of these technologies.…”

Section: Ethical and Regulatory Considerations For Deploying Gene Drivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…While a consensus may not be made among all relevant experts, some guiding principles on the use of genetic and gene drive technologies in the laboratory and the field should be considered. The literature is abundant with discussions of these principles (187)(188)(189)(190)(191)(192)(193). There is also a need for governance to approve the use of these technologies and when required, this governance needs to be able to negotiate the use of this technology on an international level.…”

Section: Ethical and Regulatory Considerations For Deploying Gene Drivementioning

confidence: 99%

A perspective on the expansion of the genetic technologies to support the control of neglected vector-borne diseases and conservation

2022

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Genetic-based technologies are emerging as promising tools to support vector population control. Vectors of human malaria and dengue have been the main focus of these development efforts, but in recent years these technologies have become more flexible and adaptable and may therefore have more wide-ranging applications. Culex quinquefasciatus, for example, is the primary vector of avian malaria in Hawaii and other tropical islands. Avian malaria has led to the extinction of numerous native bird species and many native bird species continue to be threatened as climate change is expanding the range of this mosquito. Genetic-based technologies would be ideal to support avian malaria control as they would offer alternatives to interventions that are difficult to implement in natural areas, such as larval source reduction, and limit the need for chemical insecticides, which can harm beneficial species in these natural areas. This mosquito is also an important vector of human diseases, such as West Nile and Saint Louis encephalitis viruses, so genetic-based control efforts for this species could also have a direct impact on human health. This commentary will discuss the current state of development and future needs for genetic-based technologies in lesser studied, but important disease vectors, such as C. quinquefasciatus, and make comparisons to technologies available in more studied vectors. While most current genetic control focuses on human disease, we will address the impact that these technologies could have on both disease and conservation focused vector control efforts and what is needed to prepare these technologies for evaluation in the field. The versatility of genetic-based technologies may result in the development of many important tools to control a variety of vectors that impact human, animal, and ecosystem health.

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“…At the current time, there have been no field releases of CRISPR-modified organisms for the purpose of pest control via a gene drive. Prior to any future release, an understanding of how gene drives are likely to perform is needed to inform governance discussions with the public, scientists, and biodiversity managers and obtain a "social license to operate" (Hartley et al, 2022). How likely is eradication or pest suppression?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene drives for invasive wasp control: Extinction is unlikely, with suppression dependent on dispersal and growth rates

Lester,

O'Sullivan,

Perry

2023

Ecological Applications

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Gene drives offer a potentially revolutionary method for pest control over large spatial extents. These genetic modifications spread deleterious variants through a population and have been proposed as methods for pest suppression or even eradication. We examined the influence of local dispersal, long‐distance and/or human‐mediated dispersal, and variation in population growth, on the success of a gene drive for the control of invasive social wasps (Vespula vulgaris). Our simulations incorporated a spatially realistic environment containing variable habitat quality in New Zealand. Pest eradication was not observed, except in extreme and unrealistic scenarios of constant, widespread, and spatially intense releases of genetically modified individuals every year for decades. Instead, the regional persistence of genetically modified and wild‐type wasps was predicted. Simulations using spatially homogeneous versus realistic landscapes (incorporating uninhabitable areas and dispersal barriers) showed little difference in overall population dynamics. Overall, little impact on wasp abundance was observed in the first 15 years post‐introduction. After 25 years, populations were suppressed to levels <95% of starting populations. Populations exhibited ‘chase dynamics’ with population cycles in space, with local extinction occurring in some areas while wasps became abundant in others. Increasing the wasps' local dispersal distance increased the spatial and temporal variability of the occupied area and population suppression. Varying levels of human‐associated long‐distance dispersal had little effect on population dynamics. Increasing intrinsic population growth rates interacted with local dispersal to cause higher mean populations and substantially higher levels of variation in population suppression and the total amount of landscape occupied. Gene drives appear unlikely to cause a rapid and widespread extinction of this and probably other pests, but could offer long‐term and cost‐effective methods of pest suppression. The predicted level of <95% pest suppression would substantially reduce the predation pressure and competitive interactions of this invasive wasp on native species. However, the predicted long‐term persistence of genetically modified pests will influence the ethics and likelihood of using gene drives for pest control, especially given concerns that modified wasps would eventually be transported back to their home range.

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The principles driving gene drives for conservation

Cited by 14 publications

References 54 publications

Taking stock: Is gene drive research delivering on its principles?

Taking stock: Is gene drive research delivering on its principles?

A perspective on the expansion of the genetic technologies to support the control of neglected vector-borne diseases and conservation

Gene drives for invasive wasp control: Extinction is unlikely, with suppression dependent on dispersal and growth rates

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