Gene drive: evolved and synthetic

A Burt, A Crisanti - ACS chemical biology, 2018 - ACS Publications
A Burt, A Crisanti
ACS chemical biology, 2018ACS Publications
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 …
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.
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