Abstract
Drive is a process of accelerated inheritance from one generation to the next that allows some genes to spread rapidly through populations even if they do not contribute to—or indeed even if they detract from—organismal survival and reproduction. Genetic elements that can spread by drive include gametic and zygotic killers, meiotic drivers, homing endonuclease genes, B chromosomes, and transposable elements. The fact that gene drive can lead to the spread of fitness-reducing traits (including lethality and sterility) makes it an attractive process to consider exploiting to control disease vectors and other pests. There are a number of efforts to develop synthetic gene drive systems, particularly focused on the mosquito-borne diseases that continue to plague us.
Highlights
INTRODUCTION TO GENE DRIVEMost genes are thought to spread and persist in populations because they do something useful for the organisms carrying them, increasing survival and/or reproduction, at least on average
The fact that gene drive can lead to the spread of fitnessreducing traits makes it potentially useful for controlling disease vectors and other pests
In Anopheles gambiae, the most important vector of malaria in Africa, the rRNA genes are found in a single cluster of hundreds of copies on the X chromosome, making it an ideal target,[36] and sure enough, production of a nuclease targeting this sequence during spermatogenesis can produce biased sex ratios, up to 95% males, using both an engineered meganuclease and a CRISPRbased nuclease.[37,38]
Summary
INTRODUCTION TO GENE DRIVEMost genes are thought to spread and persist in populations because they do something useful for the organisms carrying them, increasing survival and/or reproduction, at least on average.
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