Gene Drive: Biosecurity Challenges and Risks

Document Type : Review

Authors

Department of Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Passive Defence, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Iran

10.30491/jmm.2024.1006697.1198

Abstract

With the development of gene editing technology based on CRISPR, the second revolution in biology began and hopes for treatment of incurable diseases were strengthened. But along with the positive benefits of this technology, its risks in the form of designing new biological agents were also highlighted. In this regard, genomic vandalism through DNA hacking and the use of gene drives has attracted attention. For the first time in 2018, genome editing was added to the annual list of threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and ETC, a biotechnology watch organisation, also raised concerns about gene drives or gene bombs, saying gene drives could be weaponized to target the human microbiome or major food sources. Also, Bill Gates gave explanations about the rapid spread of genetic changes in the mosquito population and their extinction by gene drive technology. Using gene editing technology, gene drives can be quickly spread among a population by insects. As a result, we should learn how to properly deal with this new technology, which can be both useful and dangerous. In this study, the challenges and risks of gene drives in terms of biosecurity and the possibility of their weaponization in the form of gene bombs are reviewed and evaluated. The present study was conducted by interpreting the information obtained from scientific articles and books and searching keywords such as Gene drive, Daisy drive, Biothreat and CRISPR on NCBI, Google, Scopus, Sciencedirect and Pubmed websites.

Keywords

Journal of Military Medicine
Volume 26, Issue 4 - Serial Number 128
November and December 2024
Pages 2395-2408

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