3 ms·

Have already commented elsewhere, but keep in mind that any gene mutation that we try to enforce is already likely to have happened billions of times (DNA chang

Have already commented elsewhere, but keep in mind that any gene mutation that we try to enforce is already likely to have happened billions of times (DNA changes at every instance of sexual reproduction, that's why we're not clones of our parents, that's step 1 of evolution as well). If DNA changes in parasites affect hosts, then this is already going to be happening for all kinds of weird changes.

sulam 8y ago
As the article explains fairly well, this technique targets a gene that, if it mutates, causes that mosquito to be sterile. So when it happens de novo, you have a sterile mosquito that is simply not going to pass its genes along. Since this technique leaves the male mosquitos alone, it will spread as they mate with unaffected females (spread as in being transmitted to offspring — it’s not a virus, etc).
strainer 8y ago
It is not the case that because all possible mutations have and will continue to occur, all mutations are safe to be technologically propagated. There are many discovered and as yet undiscovered mechanics and ecologies involved in which mutations can propagate naturally. Sulams reply has the real main reason for confidence in the safety of propagating this mutation.
JoeAltmaier 8y ago
Doesn't it happen already? Half of human dna is old viral load. Perhaps a mosquito virus will take on this gene drive, arrive in humans through a mosquito bite, spread it from there.
phkahler 8y ago
This is not a mutation. It's an engineered change equivalent to many many mutations - probably thousands at once. The probability that this would randomly occur in nature is essentially zero.
- ectospheno 8y ago
  While I agree I feel compelled to mention survivor bias. If this had happened before to a species it is unlikely you'd know since they'd all be dead.

3 ms·

Have already commented elsewhere, but keep in mind that any gene mutation that we try to enforce is already likely to have happened billions of times (DNA chang

by sudhirj 8y ago

sulam 8y ago
As the article explains fairly well, this technique targets a gene that, if it mutates, causes that mosquito to be sterile. So when it happens de novo, you have a sterile mosquito that is simply not going to pass its genes along. Since this technique leaves the male mosquitos alone, it will spread as they mate with unaffected females (spread as in being transmitted to offspring — it’s not a virus, etc).
strainer 8y ago
It is not the case that because all possible mutations have and will continue to occur, all mutations are safe to be technologically propagated. There are many discovered and as yet undiscovered mechanics and ecologies involved in which mutations can propagate naturally. Sulams reply has the real main reason for confidence in the safety of propagating this mutation.
JoeAltmaier 8y ago
Doesn't it happen already? Half of human dna is old viral load. Perhaps a mosquito virus will take on this gene drive, arrive in humans through a mosquito bite, spread it from there.
phkahler 8y ago
This is not a mutation. It's an engineered change equivalent to many many mutations - probably thousands at once. The probability that this would randomly occur in nature is essentially zero.
- ectospheno 8y ago
  While I agree I feel compelled to mention survivor bias. If this had happened before to a species it is unlikely you'd know since they'd all be dead.