Gene Drive Projects
Select one or more options to filter by taxonomic groups.
Fungi
Ascomycota (sac fungi)
Sordariomycetes
Hypocreales
Readiness of Technology
4a - Active research on gene drive constructionPublications
Intended use
To modify populations of F. graminearum to disrupt virulence factors in this species, and so reduce head blight in wheat and barley
Type of system
Split homing CRISPR gene drive
Readiness of Technology
3 - Preliminary laboratory work publishedIntended use
To control this plant pathogen which causes ‘ear and stalk rot of maize’ and which can ‘contaminate maize kernels with fumonisin mycotoxins’
Type of system
Engineered gene drive employing Spore Killer Candidate-1 (SKC1) from F. verticillioides
Plantae
Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)
Trees (not a monophyletic taxonomic group)
Trees
Readiness of Technology
1 - Gene drive proposedPublications
Intended use
To modify wild tree populations to spread 'climate resilience traits' or 'genetic defenses' against 'invasive pathogens'.
Type of system
Proposed gene drive potentially based on published toxin antidote systems in Arabidopsis
Plantae
Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)
Angiospermae (angiosperms - flowering plants)
Asterales (composite flowers - daisies, ragweeds etc)
Common ragweed
Readiness of Technology
1 - Gene drive proposedPublications
Intended use
To reduce the presence and impact of weed species on agricultural production by modifying them, potentially to render them less competitive, or more sensitive to herbicide.
Common tansy
Readiness of Technology
1 - Gene drive proposedPublications
Intended use
To reduce or eliminate invasive populations of this species in North America where it is impacting biodiversity or agriculture.
Type of system
NA – proposal only
Brassicales (includes the brassicas - cabbages and mustards - and the rockcress)
Thale cress
Readiness of Technology
4b - research on gene drive construction has taken place but evidence so far shows this approach doesn't workPublications
Intended use
The intention was to demonstrate a gene drive system in a plant model species. The authors state this technology could ‘accelerate crop breeding’.
Type of system
Homing CRISPR
Thale cress
Readiness of Technology
5 - Limited proof of concept in laboratoryPublications
Intended use
Proof of concept for gene drives in plants - 'for rapid genetic modification or suppression of outcrossing plant populations'
Type of system
A toxin antidote gene drive system in the male germline targeting No Pollen Germination 1 (NPG1)
Thale cress
Readiness of Technology
5 - Limited proof of concept in laboratoryPublications
Intended use
Proof of concept for gene drives in plants - 'to rapidly drive population modification or suppression'
Type of system
A toxin antidote gene drive targeting YKT61 - functions via 'killing of gametes'
Caryophyllales (amaranths, beets, cacti and related plants)
Palmer amaranth
Readiness of Technology
1 - Gene drive proposedPublications
Intended use
To reduce the presence and impact of weed species on agricultural production by suppressing them, or by modifying them, potentially to render them less competitive, or more sensitive to herbicide.
Rough fruited water hemp
Readiness of Technology
1 - Gene drive proposedPublications
Intended use
To reduce the presence and impact of weed species on agricultural production by suppressing them, or by modifying them, potentially to render them less competitive, or more sensitive to herbicide.