A technology named "gene drive" recently attracted scientists' concern. This technology can accomplish gene mutation while two insects are copulating, passing down the "super gene" to the next generation.If terrorists take advantage of this technology, scientists warned, it is possible to produce "gene modified" insects (eg, mosquitoes) that spread deadly diseases, leading to an unprecedented environmental disaster. Theoretically, if gene drive technology is legitimately used, it can be applied to eradicate mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and so on. DNA laboratory experiment The appearance of "Crispr" technology makes gene modification easier in the lab. This technology can edit the genetic code of DNA. David Gulvez, geneticist of Tel Aviv University of Israel, said that gene drive technology can accomplish gene mutation while two insects are copulating, and it is quite possible that this genetic mutation will be inherited to the next generation. The researchers compared this technology to "nuclear chain reaction that never stops," as the modified genes are inherited regardless of whether these genes are harmful to their offspring. Theoretically, if gene drive technology is legitimate used, it can be used to eradicate mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and so on. However, if someone takes advantage of it with malicious purposes, the gene modified insects can be used to spread mass deadly disease. "The same as gene drive technology’s making mosquitoes no longer carry and spread malaria, the technology can also be used to modify mosquito genes so that they can carry deadly bacteria or viruses and transmit to humans", Gulvez explained. Recently, 27 well known geneticists advocated in an article published on Science that the scientific community should clarify the advantages and disadvantages of gene drive technology to people as well the disasters this technology may bring. Scientists said that "It is of great risks, and is possible to cause global disasters to human health, agricultural production and environmental protection." By drosophila experiment, scientists found that this modified super gene can be spread to almost every fruit fly of the entire breeding population only after several generations of inheritance. In 2003, Austin Bert, geneticist of Imperial College London, made a breakthrough in this theory. The appearance of "Crispr" technology which can edit the genetic code of DNA makes gene modification easier in the lab. This gene is called "super gene", because they contain a "box" genetic element that is more likely to be passed down to the next generation than normal genes. After several generations of inheritance, this gene can rapidly spread throughout the breeding population. About Monica Müller Monica Müller is the chief scientific officer of Creative Biolabs. He is an expertise of molecular biology and is mainly focused on the research and development of de novo antibody sequencing. |
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