Uruguay Considers Gene Drives to Combat Screwworms
February 21, 2024| |
Uruguay has been battling with the New World screwworm infestations for several decades. Screwworm fly larvae, hatched from eggs laid by the female, burrow into cattle flesh, causing fatal wounds if left untreated. Thus, the pest poses a risk to agriculture and the economy.
To address this concern, National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) experts designed a gene drive to boost the spread of a gene or group of genes in a population. This method is based on CRISPR gene editing and enables the control and eradication of pest species by hijacking the genes that impact their fertility and survival. Uruguay plans to use this technique to eradicate screwworm populations. MIT Technology Review reports that the research team from INIA has been granted permission by the government in 2020 to conduct efficacy trials.
Other control methods for screwworms include the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which involves the release of sterile males to impact breeding and decrease population. However, this method is costly and must be repeated endlessly. Compared to SIT, gene drives are more sustainable and cheaper.
Read more from Interesting Engineering and MIT Technology Review.
| |
You might also like:
- Transgenic strains for genetic control of the New World screwworm in Panama
- Insect Biotechnology: Current Usesand Future Developments
- 3rd International Workshop for Regulation of Animal Biotechnology
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
Plant
- CRISPR Boosts Immunity and Yield of Wheat
- Redesigning Genome May Turn Moss into a Biofactory of Medicines
- Australia Approves Commercial Planting of GM Banana
- Bioluminescent Petunias to Enter US Market for the First Time
-
Animal
- Uruguay Considers Gene Drives to Combat Screwworms
- Scientists Grow Meat Inside Rice Grains
-
Food
- Murdoch University Team Identifies Genes in Peanut with Potential for Improvement
- Pinoy Biotek Seminar: PCR Based Detection Kit for Salmonella on Meat
-
Health
- Antibiotic Combats Drug-Resistant Bacteria
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (July 24, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (July 17, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet