One of the risks of gene drives is that they could spread to areas where animals are native and not invasive pests. Surprisingly, the model also shows that mutating 100 per cent of fertility genes would slow the spread of the drive – 80 per cent actually works better, says Thomas. “That’s when the population starts to crash,” says Thomas.Ĭomputer modelling shows that if 250 mice carrying this gene drive were released on an island with a population of 200,000 mice, the mice would be completely wiped out in 20 to 25 years. If the drive was released, female mice would initially inherit just one mutated copy and remain fertile, but, as the drive spread in a population, more and more would inherit two copies, rendering them infertile. When the team tested the system in mice in the lab over one generation, the gene drive disabled 80 per cent of the fertility genes. To this existing drive, the researchers added a component that mutates a gene essential for female fertility. This results in 95 per cent of offspring inheriting the t haplotype. The natural gene drive, called the t haplotype, works by slowing the swimming speed of all sperm unless they carry the gene drive, which encodes a counter mechanism. So Thomas and his colleagues instead started with a natural gene drive common in mice and modified it so that it makes female house mice ( Mus musculus) infertile. However, CRISPR-based gene drives don’t work well in mammals, for reasons that aren’t understood. Evolution is evolving: 13 ways we must rethink the theory of natureĭo species really exist? Are genes destiny? Do only the fittest survive? Can we shape or stop evolution? New insights into nature are providing surprising answers, and a glorious new picture of life’s complexity
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