Species can be engineered to drive intentional extinction
Current genetic engineering techniques, particularly CRISPR-based gene drives, are specifically designed and modeled to bias inheritance and drive targeted species populations toward suppression or intentional extinction.
The claim states that species can be engineered to drive intentional extinction. Multiple papers discuss and model CRISPR-based gene drives and related technologies designed precisely for the suppression and eradication of disease vectors, invasive rodents, and pests. None of the papers refute the fundamental premise that species can be engineered in this manner, though some discuss ecological and evolutionary limitations on achieving complete extinction in practice.
Tibebu Habtewold, Dickson Wilson Lwetoijera, Astrid Hoermann, Rajabu Mashauri, Fatuma Matwewe, Rehema Mwanga, Prisca Kweyamba, Gilbert Maganga, Beatrice Philip Magani, Rachel Mtama, Moze Ally Mahonje, Mgeni Mohamed Tambwe, Felista Tarimo, Pratima R Chennuri, Julia A Cai, Giuseppe Del Corsano, Paolo Capriotti, Peter Sasse, Jason Moore, Douglas Hudson, Alphaxard Manjurano, Brian Tarimo, Dina Vlachou, Sarah Moore, Nikolai Windbichler, George K Christophides. Gene-drive-capable mosquitoes suppress patient-derived malaria in Tanzania.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09685-6
Paper 0 describes engineering mosquitoes with gene drives to suppress vector populations and combat malaria.
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James J Bull, Christopher H Remien, Stephen M Krone. Gene-drive-mediated extinction is thwarted by population structure and evolution of sib mating.. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoz014
Paper 1 models gene-drive technologies specifically designed to cause population extinction in species.
Sebald A N Verkuijl, Giuseppe Del Corsano, Paolo Capriotti, Pei-Shi Yen, Maria Grazia Inghilterra, Prashanth Selvaraj, Astrid Hoermann, Aida Martinez-Sanchez, Chiamaka Valerie Ukegbu, Temesgen M Kebede, Dina Vlachou, George K Christophides, Nikolai Windbichler. A suppression-modification gene drive for malaria control targeting the ultra-conserved RNA gene mir-184.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58954-5
Paper 2 demonstrates homing gene drives in mosquitoes designed to suppress populations and reduce transmission.
James J Bull, Christopher H Remien, Richard Gomulkiewicz, Stephen M Krone. Spatial structure undermines parasite suppression by gene drive cargo.. 2019. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7921
Paper 3 discusses the use of gene drives to directly depress vector numbers, potentially to extinction.
Luke Gierus, Aysegul Birand, Mark D Bunting, Gelshan I Godahewa, Sandra G Piltz, Kevin P Oh, Antoinette J Piaggio, David W Threadgill, John Godwin, Owain Edwards, Phillip Cassey, Joshua V Ross, Thomas A A Prowse, Paul Q Thomas. Leveraging a natural murine meiotic drive to suppress invasive populations.. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213308119
Paper 4 demonstrates an engineered gene drive strategy (tCRISPR) capable of eradicating invasive mouse populations.
Aysegul Birand, Phillip Cassey, Joshua V Ross, James C Russell, Paul Thomas, Thomas A A Prowse. Gene drives for vertebrate pest control: Realistic spatial modelling of eradication probabilities and times for island mouse populations.. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16361
Paper 6 models CRISPR-based drives to evaluate their capacity to eradicate invasive mouse populations on islands.
Philip J Lester, Mariana Bulgarella, James W Baty, Peter K Dearden, Joseph Guhlin, John M Kean. The potential for a CRISPR gene drive to eradicate or suppress globally invasive social wasps.. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69259-6
Paper 7 examines a CRISPR gene drive targeting spermatogenesis to control invasive wasp populations.
George J Annas, Chase L Beisel, Kendell Clement, Andrea Crisanti, Stacy Francis, Marco Galardini, Roberto Galizi, Julian Grünewald, Greta Immobile, Ahmad S Khalil, Ruth Müller, Vikram Pattanayak, Karl Petri, Ligi Paul, Luca Pinello, Alekos Simoni, Chrysanthi Taxiarchi, J Keith Joung. A Code of Ethics for Gene Drive Research.. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1089/crispr.2020.0096
Paper 8 notes that gene drives hold promise for controlling insect vectors, agricultural pests, and invasive species.
Philip J Lester, David O'Sullivan, George L W Perry. Gene drives for invasive wasp control: Extinction is unlikely, with suppression dependent on dispersal and growth rates.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2912
Paper 9 analyzes the potential of gene drives for pest suppression and eradication.
Pratima R Chennuri, Zach N Adelman, Kevin M Myles. Genetic Approaches for Controlling CRISPR-based Autonomous Homing Gene Drives.. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.897231
Paper 10 discusses autonomous homing gene drives designed to eliminate vector-borne diseases and pests.
James P Collins. Gene drives in our future: challenges of and opportunities for using a self-sustaining technology in pest and vector management.. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12919-018-0110-4
Paper 11 explains how gene drives use biased inheritance to spread sequences through populations for pest and vector management.
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