Should we use gene drive for pest control?

Gene drive based on the CRISPR/Cas-9 gene editing system is a powerful technology that promotes the inheritance of the gene drive tool itself via sexual reproduction and can therefore spread quickly through a population.

We argue that gene drive-based pest control strategies should receive more attention from policymakers and the public given their enormous potential impact on the environment, their easy accessibility, and the current dearth of regulations.

Given the potential impact of this technology on society, it is time for a wider, public debate. An ethical debate on the right of humans to domesticate almost any species is needed. Lawmakers, stakeholders, and the civil society should join efforts to develop a dynamic governance of gene drive technology and its potential applications, especially for agricultural pest control.

From:

Agricultural pest control with CRISPR based gene drive: time for public debate
Virginie Courtier-Orgogozo , Baptiste Morizot & Christophe Boëte. EMBO reports. Published online: May 16, 2017

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