CRISPR IN CONSERVATION: ETHICAL DEBATE AND APPLICATION IN VERTEBRATE GENE DRIVES

Abstract

The appearance of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has created new conservation biology opportunities including gene drives to control populations of invasive vertebrates.  However this technology has certain serious ecological and ethical concerns, particularly in regard to chances of it being irreversible, its target effects that could be off-target and social acceptability. The comprehensive framework of the study was a mixed methodology, which incorporated: simulations of CRISPR gene drive in three vertebrate species, three vertebrate species, ecological modelling of the spread of alleles and their consequences to the ecosystem.  And we had simulations, agent-based, which had a bear on bias in inheritance, on the sufficiency of suppression, on the resistance to alleles.  Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with conservation biologists, ethicists and indigenous stakeholders were undertaken at the same time to investigate normative issues. The efficiency of transmission of gene drive designs was greater than 95 percent, with even 0.01 percent gene drive nucleotide altering approximately 95 percent of genome nucleotides; and in optimistic conditions, could lead to the collapse of a population within 20 to 30 generations.  The ecosystem modelling on the other hand indicated that this may have issues that may cascade particularly on the interaction of predators and the prey.  Ethical research revealed there were other few views and the major ones were regarding fairness, consent, and ecological humility.  The correlation of cross-impact mapping on the anticipated biological risks and ethical limits recorded a score of 0.62, whereas the ethical limits and ecological implications are consistent with cross-impact mapping of the expected biological risks. CRISPR gene drives could be used to manage invasive species, and this could become a way of conservation, but such invasive species control must be carefully modelled ecologically, ethically engaged, and govern well.  The article demonstrates the necessity of different fields communicating with each other as well as regulating the applications of gene-editing beforehand to ensure biodiversity protection.