Nuclease-based systems designed for gene editing can, in some configurations, comprise synthetic selfish DNA elements, or ‘gene drive’ systems, which can spread through a population without having to confer a fitness benefit to individual carriers
For example, the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing method has been used to create endonuclease-based gene drive systems that spread rapidly in insect populations. Such systems have important applications for addressing global problems in public health, sustainable agriculture and environmental management
The possibility of generating gene drive systems that can easily spread throughout a population needs to be carefully considered as part of the risk assessment process for such activities.