What are emerging health technologies?

These are novel technologies that are still under development and have the potential to solve health challenges

What are gene drives?

Gene drives refers to a pattern of inheritance in which a certain gene is preferentially transmitted to the next generation. Genetic materials are transferred from parents to unusually high numbers of their offspring due to biased inheritance.

How do gene drives work?

Gene drives dramatically increase the likelihood that a particular suite of genes will be passed onto the next generation, allowing the genes to rapidly spread through a population and onto the next generation, and override natural selection.

What is the difference between gene editing and gene drives?

Gene editing refers to changing an organism’s DNA while gene drive refers to a pattern of inheritance. The term ‘gene editing’ is used to describe relatively precise alterations in genomes that are accomplished using any one of a number of tools sometimes referred to as molecular scissors.

What potential hazards are caused by gene drive mosquitos

Health hazards that have been identified as priorities for testing include the potential for the genetic modification to cause increased abundance of mosquito species that carry malaria; alterations that would result in an increased ability to transmit pathogens; alterations that would reduce the ability to control the mosquitoes with conventional methods; increased allergenicity or toxicity; and increased virulence of pathogens carried by the mosquito.

Environmental hazards identified as priorities include the potential for the genetic modification to result in: spread of the modification to other species that would cause harm to the ecosystem; indirect harm to other species that depend on the modified mosquito species for some essential service; increase in harmful competitor species; and harmful higher order effects to the ecological community.

Read more> http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0083).

Are organisms with gene drive genetically engineered?

Gene drives occur in nature. In fact, all genomes that have been examined to date are found to contain natural ‘gene drives’. However, terms such as ‘gene drive organisms’ and ‘gene drive’ often are used to imply products of genetic engineering.

What’s the position of the Convention for Biological Control on the research, development and use of gene drive technologies?

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international agreement that aims to conserve biodiversity. Most countries in the world are Parties to this agreement. The CBD considers organisms that contain synthetic gene drives as part of the broad category of research called Synthetic Biology. Furthermore, it considers organisms with synthetic gene drives as Living Modified Organisms (LMOs; more familiarly referred to as Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOS).

Since gene drive-modified organisms are LMOs, the CBD considers the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) as the appropriate umbrella under which policies regarding their transboundary movement are developed, including risk assessment. The CBD has thus far recommended that a precautionary approach should be taken with regard to decisions on activities in the field.

What are the formal positions of African governments on gene drive technologies?

African governments have not taken formal positions to support the deployment of the gene drive technologies, nor to prevent research and development. However, the African Union High Level Panel on Emerging Technologies has formally supported research that would explore the use of this technology to control malaria. Several academic societies and government agencies have published recommendations for risk assessment of gene drive-modified organisms.

(Ref: AUDA-NEPAD https://www.nepad.org/publication/gene-drives-malaria-control-and-elimination-africa; http://nepad-abne.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Position-Paper-on-Integrated-Vector-Management_Strengthening-AU-Members-Regulatory-Capacities-for-Responsible-Research-Towards-Elimination-of-Malaria-in-Africa_v2.pdf