Researchers in the US and China have succeeded for the first time in developing so-called ‘gene drives’ for plants. This new technique for genetic engineering can be used to manipulate plants directly in the environment instead of the laboratory. One goal of using the new techniques is to eliminate ‘weeds’. Others purposes could be the introduction of new traits into plants for agricultural usages.
‘Gene drives’ are enabling a faster spread of artificial gene constructs than through normal inheritance. The aim is to alter natural populations. It takes the process of genetic engineering out of the laboratory and into the environment.
Such gene drives have already been developed for yeast (2015), insects (2015) and mammals (2019). According to recent publications in Nature Plants, teams in the US and China have now succeeded for the first time in developing and testing gene drives in plants. By their experiments, the scientists demonstrated that the synthetic gene constructs can indeed spread rapidly within a population, and thus displace the natural plants.
The patented process is based on the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors. In this case they are used to knock out natural genes essential for the formation of pollen and/or ovules and the reproduction of plants. The US researchers are therefore calling their techniques ‘gamete killers’.
Besides knocking out natural genes, they also introduced a gene, which only allows the genetically engineered plants to survive. The test population showed that the proportion of genetically engineered plants increased with each subsequent generation. If these plants were to be released into the environment, the gene drive process could be started in the fields or elsewhere in the environment, without sufficient possibility of direct intervention or control.
Uses of gene drives are associated with high risks: the genetic changes caused by this technique and its consequences can hardly be predicted or controlled. It typically requires several generations to achieve the desired spread of a gene drive, thus increasing the chance of unforeseen effects due to additional mutations and interactions. The resulting damage to biodiversity can be irreversible.
In the current publications some of these risks are addressed. Nevertheless, the researchers involved in the experiments believe that the techniques could still be used in practice. In contrast, Testbiotech is in favour of a ban on the release of genetically engineered organisms intended to alter natural populations.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel +49 151 54638040
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