Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Cutter, Asher D.

Titel

Synthetic gene drives as an anthropogenic evolutionary force

Ist Teil von

• Trends in genetics, 2023-05, Vol.39 (5), p.347-357

Ort / Verlag

England: Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Genetic drive represents a fundamental force of evolution that operates by biasing allele transmission by individuals in a population.Genetic engineering now makes the anthropogenic manipulation of genetic drive feasible in a process termed ‘genetic welding’.Genetic welding with synthetic gene drives, which is similar to but distinct from artificial selection, is extremely powerful and profoundly capable of promoting the evolution of complex and novel phenotypic changes to both captive and wild populations.Bioethical analysis and biological research into genetic welding of natural populations with synthetic gene drives requires further consideration, including potential application to humans and the long-term evolutionary consequences of synthetic gene drive elements. Genetic drive represents a fundamental evolutionary force that can exact profound change to the genetic composition of populations by biasing allele transmission. Herein I propose that the use of synthetic homing gene drives, the human-mediated analog of endogenous genetic drives, warrants the designation of ‘genetic welding’ as an anthropogenic evolutionary force. Conceptually, this distinction parallels that of artificial and natural selection. Genetic welding is capable of imposing complex and rapid heritable phenotypic change on entire populations, whether motivated by biodiversity conservation or public health. Unanticipated possible long-term evolutionary outcomes, however, demand further investigation and bioethical consideration. The emerging importance of genetic welding also compels our explicit recognition of genetic drive as an addition to the other four fundamental forces of evolution.