Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)

As part of its Ethical Dilemma series, TED-Ed released a new video that explores how gene drive technologies could lead to the eradication of malaria mosquitoes and what that could mean for our ecosystems. The video, available on YouTube, guides viewers through how gene drives work, their potential for malaria eradication, and the ethical questions raised by gene drive research.

Study: No One-size-Fits-All Representation of Trust in Science and Scientists

Researchers from Australia and New Zealand studied the relationship of trust with social attitudes and motivations in forming perspectives on scientific issues such as climate change, vaccines, and gene drives. The findings are published in the Journal of Trust Research.

Can Gene Drive Help Control Invasive Species Like Rats?

Historically, the most significant number of extinctions happen on small islands. One of its leading causes is the introduction of invasive species due to human activity. Rats, for example, were unintentionally brought to islands when sea explorers tried to map the world hundreds of years ago. To date, these rats have become a threat to the local biodiversity. They are responsible for 40-60% of reptile extinctions and endangering many species of sea birds.

Gene Drive Technology May Have Potential Applications in Agriculture

Gene drive technology is a genetic phenomenon occurring in nature and causing an identified trait to spread through a species through sexual reproduction over several generations, with an inheritance rate higher than the Mendelian rate of 50%. While gene drives have been used for public health and conservation, the approach could also be used in other species that reproduce sexually in short generation times, including agricultural pests.

Community Engagement Vital to Malaria Elimination Efforts

Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium, aims to develop and share cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission. In a recent video, the organization highlights the vital role of stakeholder engagement in its activities, explaining how the communities they work with participate in the decision-making process.

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