THIRD WORLD NETWORK BIOSAFETY INFORMATION SERVICE
Dear Friends and Colleagues
Ecological Risks of Releasing GE Wild Mice into Natural Habitats
Rapid advances in genetic engineering have led to a host of proposed applications, including the use of both genome editing and gene drives to begin a new era of “ecological engineering”. Some future applications will focus on wild or feral species that will be able to reproduce and disperse freely in the environment, with the aim of spreading the introduced genes throughout surrounding populations.
As an example of the genetic engineering of wild populations, scientists are developing Lyme-resistant and tick-resistant white-footed mice using CRISPR-based genome editing technology. The mice are a primary pathogen reservoir for Lyme disease in the United States. If field trials on small, experimental islands are successful, the project would scale up to the larger islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and possibly to the mainland, most likely with a gene drive to speed the traits’ proliferation, pending relevant approvals. Despite considerable publicity, this project has yet to be evaluated by independent professional ecologists.
A recently published article cites the possible ecological risks of releasing genetically engineered (GE) vertebrates into natural habitats with examples of hypothetical, worst-case scenarios, using the genome-edited Lyme-resistant white-footed mice as a case study. The risks are: (a) exacerbating effects of existing pests or pathogens, (b) facilitating the introduction and establishment of new pests or pathogens, (c) loss of genetic diversity within species, (d) harm to other species, in some cases leading to a loss of species diversity, (e) other unwanted disruption of biotic communities, including disruption of ecosystem services, (f) non-compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, or with ethical standards for research and deployment of GE animals.
The article recommends a combination of scientific literature review, new studies to address research gaps, and the application of formal risk assessment protocols to be used to examine this case study from an environmental standpoint, to weigh the risks against possible benefits to society.
In the near future, many other novel and more controversial applications of CRISPR-based genome editing in wild vertebrates are likely to be proposed, including the use of gene drives coupled with sterility genes to eradicate invasive pest populations. However, possible long-term consequences of releasing wild animal gene drives are not well understood and the absence of harmonized, international oversight for environmental biosafety and public engagement is a major concern.
With best wishes,
Third World Network
131 Jalan Macalister
10400 Penang
Malaysia
Email: twn@twnetwork.org
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GENETICALLY ENGINEERING WILD MICE TO COMBAT LYME DISEASE: AN ECOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Snow, A. A.
BioScience, Volume 69, Issue 9, September 2019, Pages 746–756,
https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz080
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biz080/5543171
ABSTRACT
Genetic engineering of wild populations has been proposed for reducing human diseases by altering pathogens’ hosts. For example, CRISPR-based genome editing may be used to create white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) that are resistant to the Lyme disease spirochete vectored by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Toward this goal, academic researchers are developing Lyme-resistant and tick-resistant white-footed mice, which are a primary pathogen reservoir for Lyme disease in the United States. If field trials on small, experimental islands are successful, the project would scale up to the larger islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and possibly to the mainland, most likely with a local gene drive to speed the traits’ proliferation, pending approvals from relevant constituents. Despite considerable publicity, this project has yet to be evaluated by independent professional ecologists. In the present article, I discuss key ecological and evolutionary questions that should be considered before such genetically engineered mice are released into natural habitats.