Sustainability as a Framework for Considering Gene Drive Mice for Invasive Rodent Eradication

Abstract

Gene drives represent a dynamic and controversial set of technologies with applications that range from mosquito control to the conservation of biological diversity on islands. Currently, gene drives are being developed in mice that may one day serve as an important tool for reducing invasive rodent pests, a key threat to island biodiversity and economies. Gene drives in mice are still in development in laboratories, and wild release of modified mice is likely a distant reality. However, technological changes outpace the existing capacity of regulatory frameworks, and thus require integrated governance frameworks. We suggest sustainability—which gives equal consideration to the environment, economy, and society—as one framework for addressing complexity and uncertainty in the governance of emerging gene drive technologies for invasive species management. We explore the impacts of rodent gene drives on island environments, including potential conservation and restoration of island biodiversity. We outline considerations for rodent gene drives on island economies, including impacts on agricultural and tourism losses, and reductions in biosecurity costs. Finally, we address the social dimension as an essential space for deliberation that will be integral to evaluating the potential deployment of gene drive rodents on islands.

No Such Thing as Containment? Gene Drives for Conservation and the (Im)possibility of an Island

“…The gene drives for conservation literature has a standard narrative, wholly or partly reiterated in its publications (Campbell et al, 2015;NASEM, 2016;Edwards et al, 2017;Piaggio et al, 2017;Dearden et al, 2018;Leitschuh et al, 2018;McFarlane et al, 2018;Moro et al, 2018;Novak et al, 2018;Royal Society, 2018;Barnhill-Dilling et al, 2019;Campbell et al, 2019;Delborne et al, 2019;Godwin et al, 2019;Harvey-Samuel et al, 2019;Sudweeks et al, 2019;Reynolds, 2020;Serr et al, 2020). The story begins with the importance of islands: 'Islands represent the greatest concentration of both biodiversity and species extinctions.…”

Rodent management and cereal production in Asia: Balancing food security and conservation

“…One example is fertility control of rodent pests 104–106 . Another, although controversial, 107 is synthetic gene drive technology that may provide an opportunity to substantially influence the sex ratio of a rodent population 108 . As well as potential socio‐political opposition to the environmental release of gene drive technology to manage rodent pests, another essential consideration is how will wild rodent populations in agricultural landscapes respond to new methods of control.…”

Rodent gene drives for conservation: opportunities and data needs

“…We do so for three primary reasons. First, regulatory frameworks that govern biotechnology have not kept pace with the rapid pace of technological development, and debates about how to effectively govern these technologies persist [92][93][94]. Second, in part because of regulatory uncertainty and in part because these technologies are designed to be deployed in shared environments with no 'opt out' potential, informed and deliberative engagement will need to guide testing and potential implementation of these technologies well before their environmental release [28,30,31,95].…”