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How driving endonuclease genes can be used to combat pests and disease vectors

Overview of attention for article published in BMC Biology, September 2017
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Title
How driving endonuclease genes can be used to combat pests and disease vectors
Published in
BMC Biology, September 2017
DOI 10.1186/s12915-017-0420-4
Pubmed ID
Authors

H. Charles J. Godfray, Ace North, Austin Burt

Abstract

Driving endonuclease genes (DEGs) spread through a population by a non-Mendelian mechanism. In a heterozygote, the protein encoded by a DEG causes a double-strand break in the homologous chromosome opposite to where its gene is inserted and when the break is repaired using the homologue as a template the DEG heterozygote is converted to a homozygote. Some DEGs occur naturally while several classes of endonucleases can be engineered to spread in this way, with CRISPR-Cas9 based systems being particularly flexible. There is great interest in using driving endonuclease genes to impose a genetic load on insects that vector diseases or are economic pests to reduce their population density, or to introduce a beneficial gene such as one that might interrupt disease transmission. This paper reviews both the population genetics and population dynamics of DEGs. It summarises the theory that guides the design of DEG constructs intended to perform different functions. It also reviews the studies that have explored the likelihood of resistance to DEG phenotypes arising, and how this risk may be reduced. The review is intended for a general audience and mathematical details are kept to a minimum.

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Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 123 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 123 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Researcher 21 17%
Student > Ph. D. Student 15 12%
Student > Master 14 11%
Student > Bachelor 13 11%
Other 7 6%
Other 12 10%
Unknown 41 33%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 31 25%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 25 20%
Environmental Science 5 4%
Social Sciences 4 3%
Immunology and Microbiology 3 2%
Other 12 10%
Unknown 43 35%