What's a gene drive?

A gene drive is a radical new way of re-engineering the genetic makeup of an entire species - including harmful insects like the mosquito. But as the technology steams head, fueled by powerful gene editing techniques coming out of synthetic biology like CRISPR Cas9, what are the risks, and how can we ensure that it is used safely and responsibly without causing harm?

#genedrive #CRISPR #risk #safety #gene

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#CRISPR

[gabelittlefield]

Hats off to the man who had to draw all those mosquitos! Well explained, thank you!

[marcsaner]

A really clear brief on gene drivers, well worth five minutes of anyone's time!

[somyajain]

Had to watch it twice! once just for the illustrations and the 2nd time to actually understand the concept! great work💯👍

[maralenon]

I agree that scientists do not know enough and that there is an inherent bias in scientists who do this research as often the push is to keep funding or make money for a company. There is a very powerful interview with Caius Romans who worked as a head researcher in genetic engineering for Monsanto and JR. Simplot (for 26 years) until he had a change of heart. This is what he says in a recent interview with Sustainable Pulse:
It is amazing that the USDA and FDA approved the GM potatoes by only evaluating our own data. How can the regulatory agencies assume there is no bias? When I was at J.R. Simplot, I truly believed that my GM potatoes were perfect, just like a parent believes his or her children are perfect. I was biased and all genetic engineers are biased. It is not just an emotional bias. We need the GM crops to be approved. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to succeed, to justify our existence by developing modifications that create hundreds of millions of dollars in value. We test our GM crops to confirm their safety, not to question their safety. "

[Will-vkth]

Im doing an academic research on SynBio right now, and im a BioChem major at UND, the only way to ensure SynBio's potentials is to engage the people we think might use SynBio to create deadly creatures, just like the US fed gov't asks IT hackers to register with them and eventually bringing them into the circle.

[mafarmerga]

Well presented.
When I propose this to my students regarding the elimination of those mosquitos that transmit human malaria, they are all for it.
Then I tell them how many species of juvenile fish, aquatic insects, turtles etc. absolutely depend on mosquito larvae for their food.
Or how many plants are pollinated by both male and female mosquitos.

As you point out, we can only make sound decisions if we have many diverse voices contributing to the discussion.

[Beinghumane]

Nicely explained, very comprehensive. ❤

[alejandromejiamunoz]

U have masteres the art of drawing mosquitoes!

[mingjunxia]

Kind of awkward to ask, but I really want to know what's the name of the background music?

[nupjcht]

Absolutely great video thank you for this

[adarshguptak]

Make a video teaching your drawing techniques. They make any class very effective!

[markcampbell]

The particular insight on mosquitos in this video I found more ethically acceptable, genetically modifying the mosquito to become resistant to the malaria carrying parasite (Plasmodium), previous talk with gene-drives were talking about ending the existence of mosquitos completely, and other species that were considered pests. Something I feel could eventually compromise the environment and our biosphere and ecosystems around the world, we are so far from knowing how organisms interact, or even how micro-organisms could interact on each other in their native environment, some could be vital to other forms of life or even evolution itself.

Man indeed has harnessed the power to wipe all life from the earth, and not just with nuclear technology, but also with CRISPR gene editing.

But man also has the power to do good with this technology take nuclear fusion reactors for example cleaner energy (not 100% clean), sadly nuclear bombs were the precursor to reactors, being used in 1945. Yet I am hopeful that the path we will take, will be one that cures deadly disease, genetic or otherwise including cancer, making it a thing of the past. But using it to wipe a species from the face of the earth, I feel would be a step too far. Unless of course that species was introduced to an alien environment and is causing damage to that particular environment and its species, destroying its natural ecosystem. The Alien environment I am particularly concerned with is the Austr-alien (forgive the play on words), The deadly cane toad for example, poisoning and killing a lot of Australia's natural wild inhabitants, to the point of extinction. Rather than destroy the invasive and deadly species of toad that is not native to Australia, maybe it could be genetically modified by CRISPR gene drives to lose it's parotid glands, effectively making it harmless to other species, like the endangered King Brown Snake and other species that feed on toads.

CRISPR has much to offer the future of medicine, let us hope its for the benefit of the planet and all its creatures and not just for those who can afford it.

[quentin-vd]

I'm a molecular biologist and I'm all for non-scientists having a say in this sort of technology but they have to educate themselves a bit. I've had some awful awful conversations with people who are against all technologies playing with DNA and these people knew nothing about cells or living systems and were just throwing words around in a manner that made no sense.

[michaelmcgee]

This science has the potential to save countless lives. It is also capable of ending just as many. I believe the best approach to this technology is controlled environments and careful development. In the future it may be likened to nuclear power, dangerous if mishandled, but beneficial beyong their inherent danger.

[justasmidgeon]

I love this! Will definitely use in my classes...

[RealLife]

I live my life by one philosophy, just because you can does not mean you should. Think long and hard about long term effects. It might be many generations later before side-effect is triggered. Recessive / Dominant Genes.

[marcburger]

this is such an interessting topic!!! awesome

[kaitlin]

This is assuming that the genetically engineered mosquitoes live long enough to reproduce in the wild.

[coffinshark]

If you crash the mosquito population, what happens to the bats? What bug will take advantage of the hole in the food chain?

[aryangod]

I understand that at the molecular level a CRISPR mediated gene drive works by copying the altered gene (and the drive containing CAS enzyme, and guide RNA) into the other chromosome containing the wild type allele through homology directed repair...In case of a suppressive drive that is designed to render the offsprings infertile or die before reproduction .. In a typical suppression drive, Where is this copying and homology directed repair happening. In the somatic cells of one of the “parents”, or the germline cells of the parents during gametogenesis? If the drive and altered gene is copied in the somatic cells of the organism that was inserted in, then wouldn't the organism perish/or not be able to reproduce, thus unable to pass on the drive/altered gene? Or is this copying happening in the Zygote off the offspring (thus all its somatic cells), or the germline of the offspring? What happens when a organism containing wild type allele mates with an organism containing the drive? If the copying is occurring in the Zygote stage, all somatic cells of the offspring will contain two copies of the altered gene and will be Homozygous recessive for the altered deleterious gene. Then how will the offspring be able to mate and SPREAD the drive before perishing (or not being able to reproduce). Or is the copying of the altered deleterious gene happening in the Germline of the offspring? How is it ensured that drive copying only occurs during gametogenesis and does not alter the somatic cells in either parent or offspring? Because if somatic cells were rendered homozygous drive would extinguish itself before being able to spread because in engineered gene drives the organism has to be homozygous with respect to the altered gene for it to have a deleterious effect....