Preliminary work towards a homing CRISPR gene drive in Rattus norvegicus - Cornell University

Rattus norvegicus

Brown rat

Intended use

Eradicating invasive rat populations on islands to address their impacts on biodiversity

Readiness of Technology

2a - Gene drive proposed with supporting theoretical work

Project leader

Messer PW

Institution

Cornell University, USA

Publications

Champer et al., 2021

Authors name for system

Three drives modelled: ‘homing drive’ targeting either female fertility or zygote viability; and ‘Y-shredder located on the X-chromosome’

Class of Technology

Homing gene drive

Field(s) of application

Conservation

Description of system

Homing CRISPR (targeting ‘haplosufficient female fertility gene’ or ‘haplosufficient zygote viability gene’) and ‘Y-shredder’ (located on X-chromosome)

For specialists

Research in target organism

✖

Research in model organism

✖

Intended for release

✖

Intended direct effects

Population suppression/eradication