Gene drive and resilience through renewal with next generation <i>Cleave and Rescue</i> selfish genetic elements
Georg Oberhofer, Tobin Ivy, Bruce A. Hay
Abstract
Significance Gene drive can spread beneficial traits through populations, but will never be a one-shot project in which one genetic element provides all desired modifications, for an indefinitely long time. Here, we show that gene drive-mediated population modification in Drosophila can be overwritten with new content while eliminating old, using Cleave and Rescue ( ClvR ) selfish genetic elements. The ability to carry out cycles of modification that create and then leave behind a modest genetic footprint while entering and exiting a population provides important points of control. It makes possible the replacement of broken elements, upgrades with new elements that better carry out their tasks, and/or provide new functions, all while promoting the removal of modifications no longer needed.