Can DNA Editing Save Endangered Species?

Kiwi birds are an example of an endangered species and they are native to New Zealand. These kiwis are in trouble due to non-native species (otherwise known as invasive species) including rats and other animals that prey on kiwis. This is because kiwis are a flightless bird. As a result of this, kiwis are starting to become extinct, and this makes New Zealand's leaders want to get rid of the non-native species that attack these birds. A new technology can help with this, but scientists are doubting whether or not this is actually a good idea. This "solution" may very well end up being a problem in another ecosystem. The technology they are considering using is a sort of gene editing tool called a gene drive. This tool would copy and paste itself into the genome of the invasive species, and the species would die off. They would use this gene drive in the certain areas where they are threatening the loves of endangered species, however, the gene drive runs the risk of spreading into and killing off this invasive species in areas where they are not even invasive. This would kill off the species in the whole entire geographic region. Though this technology is very interesting and a remarkable discovery, it runs too high of a risk at the moment and would have to be worked on more.

Original Source: https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/can-dna-editing-save-endangered-species

Supporting Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gene-drive1/

The Future Wipe Out Of Mosquitoes with Diseases

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/gene-driveequipped-mosquitoes-released-into-lab-environment-65493

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/02/20/693735499/scientists-release-controversial-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-in-high-securit

A laboratory that mimics real life outdoors in Terni, Italy released hundreds of genetically modified mosquitoes that are known to be carrying a sequence of DNA that can rapidly reproduce with a cure for malaria and other diseases.  This would be a life changing break through to save many lives in Africa and other poverty stricken places. This sequence of DNA introduces female mosquitoes with the inability to bit, as well as lay eggs that can spread diseases more rapidly. If you did not know, females are the mosquito's in which spread the different diseases. This mutation is called the "doublesex" mutation. Within the lab, they see this successfully working, and realize this will help knock out many diseases within the insect populations. Within a year the scientists should be able to understand these concepts fully, and within five years releases these new breed mosquito's into the wild.

This is ground breaking research. This will ultimately help the poverty stricken country's that cannot fight off these diseases, and reduce the total number of deaths. It is shocking that within science you can come up with anything, and work out its flaws. This project will take awhile to complete but patience is key to controlling the diseases spread by mosquito's.