A new way to prevent genetically engineered and unaltered organisms from producing offspring
'Synthetic incompatibility' could boost safety and effectiveness of applying genetic engineering to control invasive species, produce fuel, prevent disease and more.
List of Uses:Â
Eradicating species that are: invasive, crop pests, disease-carrying Preventing: altered genes from escaping from GMO cropsÂ
How this technology is used:
New class of molecular tool called “programmable transcription factors” controlling which genes in the organism are turned on/off. Expected to work on any sexually reproducing organism without changing how they are normally grown.
Why this is used:
Replaces the use of any toxic genes. Allows crops to produce medications as well as food, feed and fuel. Raises hope for using genetic engineering to control populations of invasive species /pests.
Examples of these methods:
To control gene flow Disrupting pollen Using a chemical to control reproduction in crops
What’s next?:
Show that this technology can work in organisms other than yeasts; model fish, insects, nematodes and plants.Â
