Gene drive technology works by forcing evolution's hand, ensuring that an engineered trait is passed down to a higher proportion of offspring -- across many generations -- than would have occurred naturally. In a rapidly reproducing species, the result will be a cascading reduction in population -- or even extinction. Today, Esvelt says he was mistaken to raise the hopes of conservationists, and that unbridled gene drive is too dangerous to be used for that purpose. But Esvelt does not exclude more limited forms of gene drive, nor other targets, notably the eradication of mosquito-borne disease in humans. "From a science perspective, putting a blanket moratorium on gene drive research just doesn't make sense to me," he told AFP.

Source: The Nation Bangkok December 05, 2017 20:48 UTC