Transforming ecology and conservation biology through genome editing

Abstract

As the conservation challenges increase, new approaches are needed to help combat losses in biodiversity and slow or reverse the decline of threatened species. Genome-editing technology is changing the face of modern biology, facilitating applications that were unimaginable only a decade ago. The technology has the potential to make significant contributions to the fields of evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation, yet the fear of unintended consequences from designer ecosystems containing engineered organisms has stifled innovation. To overcome this gap in the understanding of what genome editing is and what its capabilities are, more research is needed to translate genome-editing discoveries into tools for ecological research. Emerging and future genome-editing technologies include new clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) targeted sequencing and nucleic acid detection approaches as well as species genetic barcoding and somatic genome-editing technologies. These genome-editing tools have the potential to transform the environmental sciences by providing new noninvasive methods for monitoring threatened species or for enhancing critical adaptive traits. A pioneering effort by the conservation community is required to apply these technologies to real-world conservation problems.

How do we overcome abrupt degradation of marine ecosystems and meet the challenge of heat waves and climate extremes?

“…Genetic engineering: The alteration of an organism's DNA to modify its phenotype (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, 2019;Phelps et al, 2018;Rode et al, 2019).…”

“…Other approaches include conventional cross-breeding of strains or species to create hybrids likely to be vigorous under future environmental conditions (van Oppen et al, 2015), and the optimization of symbiotic relationships to select for resistant holobionts (see review by Roughgarden, Gilbert, Rosenberg, Zilber-Rosenberg, & Lloyd, 2018). In the most extreme examples, these approaches extend to modifying the genomes of the target species and/or its symbiont(s) to create novel genotypes and holobionts (see reviews by Phelps, Seeb, & Seeb, 2018;Rode, Estoup, Bourguet, Courtier-Orgogozo, & Débarre, 2019). In these instances, the resulting engineered individuals would be introduced into wild populations and environmentally altered ecosystems, to restore desired organisms or ecosystem structures (termed 'rescue drives' in genome editing).…”

The ethics of genetic engineering and gene drives in conservation

“…; Owens ; Rohwer ; Phelps et al. ). The genetic analysis, synthesis, and editing techniques that underlie this possibility are developing quickly (Mei et al.…”

“…The idea of engineering genetic changes into wild populations to pursue conservation aims is gaining proponents (e.g., Champer et al 2016;Johnson et al 2016;Dearden et al 2017;Piaggio et al 2017;Owens 2017;Rohwer 2018;Phelps et al 2019). The genetic analysis, synthesis, and editing techniques that underlie this possibility are developing quickly (Mei et al 2016;Knott & Doudna 2018;Grunwald et al 2019;IUCN 2019).…”

“…Researchers exploring the use of synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and gene drives in conservation typically conceive of the ethics involved as consisting of risk assessment and management, public engagement and acceptance, opportunity costs, risk and benefit distributions, and oversight (e.g., Champer et al 2016;Bennett et al 2017;Dearden et al 2017;Esvelt & Gemmell 2017;Piaggio et al 2017;Kofler et al 2018;Phelps et al 2019). These are important and complex issues.…”