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1 Introduction
Pages 12-25

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From page 12...
... Geneticists and population biologists continued to explore how to use a variety of selfish genetic elements as the mechanistic basis for the development of a gene drive, primarily 12
From page 13...
... It enabled biologists to transform the idea of a gene drive into a reality. In early 2015, 3 years after the first demonstration of CRISPR/Cas9 as a gene editing tool, a research group led by George Church created the first gene drive in yeast (DiCarlo et al., 2015)
From page 14...
... . Boxes highlig selected scientific p ght publications on advanc in gene drive resea ces arch.
From page 15...
... Drive, gene drive, meiotic drive, driving Y chromosome, selfish gene, selfish genetic elements, and related concepts often have overlapping definitions depending on the historical period and the scientific context in which the terms are used. In this report gene drives are defined as systems of biased inheritance in which the ability of a genetic element to pass from a parent to its offspring through sexual reproduction is enhanced.
From page 16...
... BOX 1-1 Statement of Task The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences will convene an ad hoc expert committee in accordance with National Academies' policies to:  Review the state of the science of gene drive research that relies on genome editing techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9 and other endonucleases, or other genetic modification approaches. The fo cus should be on identifying the key scientific techniques for reducing ecological and other risks that should be considered prior to field releases of organisms carrying gene drives.
From page 17...
... However, note that the number of generations and amount of time for a selfish genetic element to spread throughout a population will vary depending on the drive mechanism, the species, and a variety of environmental conditions.
From page 18...
... Gene drive technologies could become an important option for addressing complex, difficult-to-solve issues, particularly those where solutions are limited or entirely lacking. For example, outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika virus, chikungunya, West Nile virus, and a diverse group of "neglected tropical diseases,"4 like elephantitis, can be devastating either because there are few effective treatment options or because affected individuals have limited access to such treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
From page 19...
... Introduction 19 TABLE 1-1 Po otential Applicat tions for Gene Drive Research D Public Health  Control or alter organism that carry infec o ms ctious diseases that affect human such as dengu ns, ue, malaria, Chagas, and Lym disease me  Control or alter organism that directly cau infection o ms use or diseas such as Schist se, tosomiasis Aedes aegyptti  Control or alter organism that serve as reservoirs of o ms disease, such as bats and rodents Image Source: US Center for Disease rs Control and Preve C ention Ecosy ystem Conserva ation  Control or alter organism that carry infec o ms ctious diseases that threa the survival of other species aten  Eliminat invasive specie that threaten na te es ative ecosyste and biodivers ems sity Hemignathus mu H unroi  Alter orgganisms that are t threatened or end dangered (‘Ak kiapōlā'au honey ycreeper) Image Sour US Fish and Wildlife Service rce: W Agriculture  Control or alter organism that damage cro or o ms ops carry cro diseases op  Eliminat weedy plants th compete with te hat h cultivate crops ed Fru damage from spotted uit win drosophila inf ng festation Image Sourc US Department of Agriculture ce: Basic Research B  Alter mo organisms to carry out researc on odel o ch gene driv function and e ve effects, species bi iology, and mechanisms of diseasse DNA Double Helix H Image Sour National Inst rce: titutes of Health  
From page 20...
... . Boxes highlight select scien rch advances in gene drive re ntific publications on a e search.
From page 21...
... e e ort prehensive list of definitions fo terms used thr or roughout the report. In addition, as the threat of vector-borne diseases and in a f d nvasive species is not limited by political s d boundaries, th are many questions abou potential go here ut overnance and regulation of t technolo the gy, as well as ethical concerns, and a cle need to en a ear ngage appropri iately with commmunities in areas where gene drives mig be tested an applied in th field.
From page 22...
... Chapter 4 describes human values that may guide our perceptions, decisions, and actions about gene drive research and its potential applications. Phased Testing Pathway A phased testing pathway is a step-wise approach to guide the preparation for and conduct of research in the laboratory through environmental release.
From page 23...
... CONCLUSIONS Gene drive research is advancing rapidly, and the proposed applications will likely continue to expand as genome editing tools such as CRISPR become more refined. New scientific information and public perspectives arise almost on a monthly basis concerning the use and application of gene drive research.
From page 24...
... 2005. Transposable element insertion location bias and the dynamics of gene drive in mosquito populations.
From page 25...
... 2011. A synthetic homing endonuclease-based gene drive system in the human malaria mosquito.


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