Publishers, P. (2022, July 8). Genetically-enhanced biocontrols could help fight large invasive mammals. Phys.org. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://phys.org/news/2022-07-genetically-enhanced-biocontrols-large-invasive-mammals.html 

Invasive mammals can have a significant impact on ecosystems and the environment, with methods for large mammals such as trapping and hunting having proved feasible on a large scale. With interest in an alternative pest control solution for large mammals, scientists have begun to experiment with genome engineering. While current studies have only been modeled on mice, genome engineering can prove to be effective in controlling the population of rats, rabbits, feral cats, and foxes. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, the simulated gene drive will target and slice the X-chromosome at the correct time during meiosis. This way, only Y-chromosome carrying sperm will be able to successfully fertilize an egg. Drive carrying males can only produce male offspring, who will also carry the “molecular scissors” gene. Females of the invasive species will become more sparse and therefore produce less offspring, causing the population size to fall.

Invasive species are incredibly harmful to natural ecosystems, and large mammals need a more effective way to control their population. Genetic engineering as a solution to pest control highlights the bright future of genetic engineering science. And although the concept is fascinating, genome engineering is often seen as the “silver bullet” of pest control. It’s expensive to develop such technology, and hasn’t been tested on mammals yet. While managing to suppress cage populations of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, the technology model only shows the possibility of it working in mammals. Not to mention that once this technology is applied, it will take many years and multiple generations of animals to begin to see a difference. So while I think that this new research can be incredibly valuable, it may not be the most realistic solution to pest control.