FEATURE ARTICLE

elifesciences.org

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY Concerning RNA-guided drives for the alteration of wild populations

Abstract Gene drives may be capable of addressing ecological problems by altering entire populations of wild organisms, but their use has remained largely theoretical due to technical constraints. Here we consider the potential for RNA-guided gene drives based on the CRISPR nuclease Cas9 to serve as a general method for spreading altered traits through wild populations over many generations. We detail likely capabilities, discuss limitations, and provide novel precautionary strategies to control the spread of gene drives and reverse genomic changes. The ability to edit populations of sexual would offer substantial benefits to humanity and the environment. For example, RNA-guided gene drives could potentially prevent the spread of disease, support agriculture by reversing pesticide and herbicide resistance in insects and weeds, and control damaging invasive species. However, the possibility of unwanted ecological effects and near-certainty of spread across political borders demand careful assessment of each potential application. We call for thoughtful, inclusive, and well-informed public discussions to explore the responsible use of this currently theoretical technology. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.001

KEVIN M ESVELT*, ANDREA L SMIDLER, FLAMINIA CATTERUCCIA* AND GEORGE M CHURCH*

Introduction agricultural and environmental damage wrought by invasive species. Despite numerous advances, the field of molec- Scientists have long known of naturally occur- ular biology has often struggled to address key ring selfish genetic elements that can increase biological problems affecting public health and the odds that they will be inherited. This advan- the environment. Until recently, editing the tage allows them to spread through popula- of even model organisms has been dif- tions even if they reduce the fitness of individual *For correspondence: ficult. Moreover, altered traits typically reduce ev- organisms. Many researchers have suggested [email protected] olutionary fitness and are consequently eliminated that these elements might serve as the basis for (KME); [email protected] by natural selection. This restriction has profoundly (FC); [email protected] (GMC) limited our ability to alter ecosystems through ‘gene drives’ capable of spreading engineered molecular biology. traits through wild populations (Craig et al., 1960; Reviewing editor: Diethard If we could develop a general method of Wood et al., 1977; Sinkins and Gould, 2006; Tautz, Max Planck Institute for ensuring that engineered traits would instead be Burt and Trivers, 2009; Alphey, 2014). Austin Evolutionary Biology, Germany favored by natural selection, then those traits Burt was the first to propose gene drives based Copyright Esvelt et al. This article could spread to most members of wild populations on site-specific ‘homing’ is distributed under the terms of the over many generations. This capability would over a decade ago (Burt, 2003). These genes Creative Commons Attribution License, allow us to address several major world problems, bias inheritance by cutting the homologous chro- which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original including the spread of insect-borne diseases, the mosome, inducing the cell to copy them when it author and source are credited. rise of pesticide and herbicide resistance, and the repairs the break. Several efforts have focused

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 1 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

on the possibility of using gene drives targeting his proposal. Indeed, the well-recognized poten- mosquitoes to block transmission (Scott tial for gene drives to combat vector-borne dis- et al., 2002; Windbichler et al., 2007, 2008, eases such as malaria and dengue virtually ensures 2011; Li et al., 2013a; Galizi et al., 2014). that this strategy will eventually be attempted in However, development has been hindered by the mosquitoes. difficulty of engineering homing While considerable scholarship has been to cut new target sequences (Chan et al., 2013a; devoted to the question of how gene drives Thyme et al., 2013; Takeuchi et al., 2014). might be safely utilized in mosquitoes (Scott Attempts to build gene drives with more easily et al., 2002; Touré et al., 2004; Benedict et al., retargeted zinc-finger nucleases and TALENs suf- 2008; Marshall, 2009; UNEP, 2010; Reeves fered from instability due to the repetitive nature et al., 2012; David et al., 2013; Alphey, 2014), of the genes encoding them (Simoni et al., 2014). few if any studies have examined the potential The recent discovery and development of the ecological effects of gene drives in other species. RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease has dramatically After all, constructing a drive to spread a partic- enhanced our ability to engineer the genomes of ular genomic alteration in a given species was diverse species. Originally isolated from ‘CRISPR’ simply not feasible with earlier editing acquired immune systems in , Cas9 is a methods. Disconcertingly, several published gene non-repetitive that can be directed to cut drive architectures could lead to extinction or almost any DNA sequence by simply expressing a other hazardous consequences if applied to ‘guide RNA’ containing that same sequence. In sensitive species, demonstrating an urgent need little more than a year following the first dem- for improved methods of controlling these ele- onstrations in human cells, it has enabled gene ments. After consulting with experts in many fields insertion, deletion, and replacement in many dif- as well as concerned environmental organizations, ferent species (Bassett et al., 2013; Cho et al., we are confident that the responsible develop- 2013; Cong et al., 2013; DiCarlo et al., 2013; ment of RNA-guided technology is Friedland et al., 2013; Gratz et al., 2013; Hu best served by full transparency and early engage- et al., 2013; Hwang et al., 2013; Jiang et al., ment with the public. 2013a, 2013b; Jinek et al., 2013; Li et al., Here we provide brief overviews of gene 2013b; Mali et al., 2013c; Tan et al., 2013; drives and Cas9-mediated genome engineering, Upadhyay et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2013b). detail the mechanistic reasons that RNA-guided Building RNA-guided gene drives based on gene drives are likely to be effective in many the Cas9 nuclease is a logical way to overcome species, and outline probable capabilities and the targeting and stability problems hindering limitations. We further propose novel gene drive gene drive development. Less obvious is the architectures that may substantially improve our extent to which the unique properties of Cas9 control over gene drives and their effects, discuss are well-suited to overcoming other molecular possible applications, and suggest guidelines and evolutionary challenges inherent to the con- for the safe development and evaluation of this struction of safe and functional gene drives. promising but as yet unrealized technology. A dis- We submit that Cas9 is highly likely to enable cussion of risk governance and regulation intended scientists to construct efficient RNA-guided gene specifically for policymakers is published separately drives not only in mosquitoes, but in many other (Oye et al., 2014). species. In addition to altering populations of insects to prevent them from spreading disease Natural gene drives (Curtis, 1968), this advance would represent an entirely new approach to ecological engineering In nature, certain genes ‘drive’ themselves through with many potential applications relevant to human populations by increasing the odds that they will health, agriculture, biodiversity, and ecological be inherited (Burt and Trivers, 2009). Examples science. include endonuclease genes that copy them- The first technical descriptions of endonuclease selves into chromosomes lacking them (Burt gene drives were provided by Austin Burt in his and Koufopanou, 2004), segregation distorters landmark proposal to engineer wild populations that destroy competing chromosomes during more than a decade ago (Burt, 2003). Any of the meiosis (Lyttle, 1991), transposons that insert rapidly expanding number of laboratories with copies of themselves elsewhere in the genome expertise in Cas9-mediated genome engineering (Charlesworth and Langley, 1989), Medea ele- could attempt to build a gene drive by substituting ments that eliminate competing siblings who do Cas9 for the homing endonucleases described in not inherit them (Beeman et al., 1992; Chen

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 2 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

et al., 2007), and heritable microbes such as Wood and Newton, 1991). In this model, the Y Wolbachia (Werren, 1997). chromosome (or its equivalent in other sex- determination systems) would encode an endo- Endonuclease gene drives nuclease that cuts and destroys the X chromosome during male meiosis, thereby ensuring that Natural homing endonuclease genes exhibit most viable sperm contain a Y chromosome drive by cutting the corresponding locus of chro- (Newton et al., 1976; Wood and Newton, mosomes lacking them. This induces the cell to 1991; Windbichler et al., 2007, 2008; Galizi repair the break by copying the nuclease gene et al., 2014). The progressively dwindling number onto the damaged chromosome via homologous of females will culminate in a population crash recombination (Figure 1A) (Burt and Koufopanou, or extinction (Craig et al., 1960; Lyttle, 1977; 2004). The copying process is termed ‘homing’, Burt, 2003; Schliekelman et al., 2005; Deredec while the endonuclease-containing cassette that et al., 2008, 2011; North et al., 2013; Burt, is copied is referred to as a ‘gene drive’ or simply 2014). a ‘drive’. Because copying causes the fraction of Whether a standard gene drive will spread offspring that inherit the cassette to be greater than through a target population depends on molec- 1/2 (Figure 1B), these genes can drive through ular factors such as homing efficiency, fitness a population even if they reduce the reproductive cost, and evolutionary stability (Marshall and fitness of the individual organisms that carry them. Hay, 2012); only the rate of spread is determined Over many generations, this self-sustaining pro- by the mating dynamics, generation time, and cess can theoretically allow a gene drive to spread other characteristics of the target population. from a small number of individuals until it is pre- In contrast, models suggest that the deleterious sent in all members of a population. and complex effects of genetic load and sex- biasing suppression drives render them more Engineered gene drives sensitive to population-specific ecological vari- To build an endonuclease gene drive, an endonu- ables such as density-dependent selection (Burt, clease transgene must be inserted in place of a 2003; Schliekelman et al., 2005; Huang et al., natural sequence that it can cut. If it can efficiently 2007; Deredec et al., 2008; Marshall, 2009; cut this sequence in organisms with one transgene Yahara et al., 2009; Deredec et al., 2011; Alphey and one natural locus, reliably induce the cell to and Bonsall, 2014). copy the transgene, and avoid being too costly to No engineered endonuclease gene drive the organism, it will spread through susceptible capable of spreading through a wild population wild populations. has yet been published. However, the Crisanti and Standard drives spread genomic changes and Russell laboratories have constructed gene drives associated traits through populations. Burt‘s orig- that can only spread through laboratory mosquito inal study proposed using them to drive the (Windbichler et al., 2011) and fruit fly Chan( spread of other transgenes or to disrupt existing et al., 2011; Simoni et al., 2014) populations that genes (Figure 2A,B) (Burt, 2003). The gene drive have been engineered to contain the endonucle- copying step can take place immediately upon ase cut site. The Burt and Crisanti laboratories are fertilization (Figure 2C) or occur only in germline attempting to build a male-biasing suppression cells that are immediate precursors to sperm or drive using an endonuclease that serendipitously eggs, leaving most of the organism‘s somatic cuts a conserved sequence repeated hundreds cells with only one copy of the drive (Figure 2D). of times in the X chromosome of the mosquito Suppression drives reduce the size of the targeted gambiae (Windbichler et al., 2007, population. Austin Burt outlined an elegant strategy 2008; Galizi et al., 2014). If successful, their work involving the use of gene drives to disrupt genes promises to substantially reduce the population of that cause infertility or lethality only when both this important malaria vector. copies are lost (Burt, 2003). These ‘genetic load’ All engineered gene drives based on homing drives would spread rapidly through minimally endonucleases cut the natural recognition site of impaired heterozygotes when rare, and eventu- the relevant enzyme. Despite early hopes, it has ally cause the population to crash or even become proven difficult to engineer homing endonucle- extinct due to the accumulated load of recessive ases to cleave new target sequences. Numerous mutations. A second approach would mimic natu- laboratories have sought to accomplish this goal rally occurring ‘meiotic’ or ‘gametic’ drives that bias for well over a decade with only a few recent suc- the sex ratio (Craig et al., 1960; Hickey and Craig, cesses (Chan et al., 2013a; Thyme et al., 2013; 1966; Hamilton, 1967; Newton et al., 1976; Takeuchi et al., 2014). More recently, a team

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 3 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

cutting and homing, both declined in effectiveness over time due to the evolutionary instability of the modular repeats inherent to those proteins. These early attempts demonstrate that it is possible to build synthetic gene drives, but also emphasize the importance of cutting any desired gene and remaining stable during copying. The recent discovery of the RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease represents a possible solution.

RNA-guided genome editing via the Cas9 nuclease One straightforward method of genome editing relies on the same mechanism employed by endonuclease gene drives: cut the target gene and supply an edited version for the cell to use as a template when it fixes the damage. Most eukar- yotic genome engineering over the past decade was accomplished using zinc-finger nucleases (Urnov et al., 2005) or TALENs (Christian et al., 2010), both of which are modular proteins that can be redesigned or evolved to target new sequences, albeit only by specialist laboratories (Esvelt and Wang, 2013). Genome editing was democratized by the discovery and adaptation of Cas9, an enzyme that can be programmed to cut target DNA sequences specified by a guiding RNA molecule (Deltcheva et al., 2011; Jinek et al., 2012; Cho et al., 2013; Cong et al., 2013; Jinek et al., 2013; Mali et al., 2013c). Cas9 is a component of Type II CRISPR acquired immune systems in bacteria, which Figure 1. The spread of endonuclease gene drives. allow cells to ‘remember’ the sequences of pre- (A) When an organism carrying an endonuclease gene viously encountered viral genomes and protect drive (blue) mates with a wild-type organism (grey), the themselves by recognizing and cutting those gene drive is preferentially inherited by all offspring. sequences if encountered again. They accom- This can enable the drive to spread until it is present plish this by incorporating DNA fragments into in all members of the population–even if it is mildly a memory element, transcribing it to produce deleterious to the organism. (B) Endonuclease gene with the same sequence, and directing Cas9 drives are preferentially inherited because the endonu- to cut any matching DNA sequences (Deltcheva clease cuts the homologous wild-type chromosome. et al., 2011). The only restriction is that Cas9 When the cell repairs the break using homologous will only cut target ‘protospacer’ sequences that recombination, it must use the gene drive chromosome as a repair template, thereby copying the drive onto the are flanked by a protospacer-adjacent motif wild-type chromosome. If the endonuclease fails to cut (PAM) at the 3′ end. The most commonly used or the cell uses the competing non-homologous Cas9 ortholog has a PAM with only two required end-joining repair pathway, the drive is not copied, bases (NGG) and therefore can cut protospac- so efficient gene drives must reliably cut when ers found approximately every 8 base pairs homology-directed repair is most likely. (Jinek et al., 2012). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.002 Remarkably, it is possible to direct Cas9 to cut a specific protospacer in the genome using constructed new versions of the fruit fly gene drive only a single guide RNA (sgRNA) less than 100 using modular zinc-finger nucleases or TALENs in base pairs in length (Jinek et al., 2012). This place of the homing endonuclease (Simoni et al., guide RNA must begin with a 17-20 2014), both of which can be engineered to cut ‘spacer’ sequence identical to the targeted proto­ new target sequences. While initially successful at spacer sequence in the genome (Fu et al., 2014).

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 4 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Because RNA-guided genome editing relies on exactly the same copying mechanism as endonuclease gene drives, it is reasonable to ask whether it might be possible to build gene drives based on Cas9. In principle, RNA-guided gene drives might be capable of spreading almost any genomic alteration that can be gener- ated using Cas9 through sexually reproducing populations.

Will RNA-guided gene drives enable us to edit the genomes of wild populations? Although we cannot be certain until we try, cur- rent evidence suggests that RNA-guided gene drives will function in some and possibly most sexually reproducing species. Learning how to Figure 2. Consequences and timing of gene drive insert a drive into the germline and optimize its replication. (A) Gene drives can carry other genes function in each new species will likely require with them as cargo. For example, a transgene that months to years depending on generation blocks malaria transmission could be driven through length, with subsequent drives in the same spe- wild mosquito populations. There is no selection to cies taking less time. Because inserting the maintain the function of a cargo gene. (B) Gene drive into the germline with Cas9 involves the drives can disrupt or replace other genes. For example, a drive might replace a mosquito gene same molecular copying process as the drive important for malaria transmission. Because it itself will utilize, successful insertion may produce cannot spread without disrupting the target gene, a working if not particularly efficient RNA- this strategy is evolutionarily stable. (C) If homing guided gene drive. But if population-level engi- occurs in the zygote or early embryo, all organisms neering is to become a reality, all molecular that carry the drive will be homozygous in all of their factors relevant to homing – cutting, specificity, tissues. (D) If homing occurs in the late germline cells copying, and evolutionary robustness – must be that contribute to sperm or eggs, the offspring will considered. Below, we provide a detailed technical remain heterozygous in most tissues and avoid the analysis of the extent to which Cas9 can address consequences of drive-induced disruptions. each of these challenges. Capabilities, limitations, DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.003 control strategies, and possible applications are discussed in subsequent sections. The process of editing a target gene involves Cutting choosing protospacers within the gene, building one or more guide RNAs with matching spac- The first requirement for every endonuclease gene ers, and delivering Cas9, guide RNAs, and an drive is to cut the target sequence. Incomplete edited repair template lacking those proto- cutting was a problem for the homing endonuclease spacers into the cell (Figure 3). drive constructed in transgenic mosquitoes (72% Cas9 is efficient enough to cut and edit multiple cutting) and also for the homing endonuclease, genes in a single experiment (Li et al., 2013c; zinc-finger nuclease, and TALEN drives in fruit Wang et al., 2013a). The enzyme is active in flies (37%, 86%, and 70% cutting) (Windbichler a wide variety of organisms and is also quite spe- et al., 2011; Chan et al., 2013b; Simoni et al., cific, cutting only protospacers that are nearly 2014). The simplest way to increase cutting is to identical to the spacer sequence of the guide RNA target multiple adjacent sequences. However, this (Hsu et al., 2013; Mali et al., 2013a; Pattanayak is impractical for homing endonucleases and quite et al., 2013). Moreover, methods that allow difficult for zinc-finger nucleases and TALENs, Cas9 to bind but not cut enable the expression as each additional sequence requires a new of target genes to be regulated by selectively nuclease protein to be engineered or evolved recruiting regulatory proteins attached to Cas9 and then co-expressed. or the guide RNA (Gilbert et al., 2013; Mali et al., In contrast, the RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease 2013a). All of these applications were devel- can be readily directed to cleave additional oped within the last two years. sequences by expressing additional guide RNAs

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 5 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

out of six tested guide RNAs (Kondo and Ueda, 2013). The two least effective guide RNAs indi- vidually cut at rates exceeding 12% and 56%, but exhibited cutting rates above 91% when com- bined. Using more than two guide RNAs should further enhance cutting. The notable success of Cas9-based genome engineering in many dif- ferent species, including studies that targeted every gene in the genome (Shalem et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2014), demonstrates that most sequences can be efficiently targeted independent of species and cell type. Thus, RNA-guided gene drives should be capable of efficiently cutting any given gene.

Specificity Because cutting other sites in the genome may seriously compromise the fitness of the organism, the second requirement is to avoid cutting non- targeted sequences. Figure 3. RNA-guided genome editing via Cas9. The While several studies have reported that Cas9 Cas9 nuclease protein and guide RNA must first be is prone to cutting off-target sequences that are delivered into the target cell. This is often accom- closely related to the target (Fu et al., 2013; Hsu plished by transfecting DNA expression plasmids, but et al., 2013; Mali et al., 2013a; Pattanayak et al., delivering RNA is also effective. The guide RNA directs 2013), more recent developments and strategies Cas9 to bind target DNA ‘protospacer’ sequences that designed to improve specificity Mali( et al., 2013a; match the ‘spacer’ sequence within the guide RNA. Fu et al., 2014; Guilinger et al., 2014; Tsai et al., Protospacers must be flanked by an appropriate 2014) have demonstrated that the off-target rate protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM), which is NGG for the can be reduced to nearly undetectable levels most commonly used Cas9 protein (Jinek et al., 2012). If the spacer and protospacer are identical or have only (Figure 4). Notably, Cas9 does not appear to rep- a few mismatches at the 5′ end of the spacer, Cas9 resent a noticeable fitness burden when expressed will cut both strands of DNA, creating a blunt-ended at a moderate level in fruit flies with or without double-strand break. If supplied with a repair template guide RNAs (Kondo and Ueda, 2013). Organisms containing the desired changes and homology to the with larger genomes may require more careful tar- sequences on either side of the break, the cell may get site selection due to the increased number of use homologous recombination to repair the break potential off-target sequences present. by incorporating the repair template into the chromo- some. Otherwise, the break will be repaired by non- Copying homologous end-joining, resulting in gene disruption. Cas9 cutting is efficient enough to alter both chromo- The third and most challenging requirement somes at the same time and/or to edit multiple genes involves ensuring that the cut sequence is repaired at once (Li et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2013a). If the using homologous recombination (HR) to copy the cell being edited is a germline cell that gives rise to drive rather than the competing non-homologous eggs or sperm, the changes can be inherited by future end-joining (NHEJ) pathway (Figure 4). HR rates generations. are known to vary across cell types (Mali et al., DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.004 2013c), developmental stages (Fiorenza et al., 2001; Preston et al., 2006), species (Chan et al., (Figure 4). The sequences of these additional 2013b), and the phase of the cell cycle (Saleh- guide RNAs can be altered so as to avoid creating Gohari and Helleday, 2004). For example, the unstable repeats within the drive cassette endonuclease gene drive in mosquitoes was cor- (Nishimasu et al., 2014; Simoni et al., 2014). rectly copied following ∼97% of cuts (Windbichler Including more guides has been demonstrated to et al., 2011), while a similar drive in fruit flies was improve upon already high rates of cutting. For initially copied only 2% of the time (Chan et al., example, fruit flies expressing both Cas9 and 2011) and never rose above 78% even with exten- guide RNAs in their germline exhibited target sive combinatorial optimization of promoter and 3′ cutting rates exceeding 85–99% in males for four untranslated region. This difference is presumably

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 6 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Figure 4. Technical advantages of RNA-guided gene drives. Clockwise from lower left: The targeting flexibility of Cas9 permits the exclusive selection of target sequences with few potential off-targets in the genome. Targeting multiple sites increases the cutting frequency and hinders the evolution of drive resistant alleles, which must accumulate mutations at all of the sites. The Cas9 nuclease is can be quite specific in the sequences that it targets; fruit flies do not exhibit notable fertility or fitness defects resulting from off-target cutting when both Cas9 nuclease and guide RNAs are expressed in the germline (Kondo and Ueda, 2013). Choosing target sites with few or no close relatives in the genome, using truncated guide RNAs (Fu et al., 2014), employing paired Cas9 nickases (Mali et al., 2013a) instead of nucleases, or utilizing Cas9-FokI fusion proteins (Guilinger et al., 2014; Tsai et al., 2014) can further increase specificity. Several of these strategies can reduce the off-target mutation rate to borderline undetectable levels (Fu et al., 2014; Guilinger et al., 2014; Tsai et al., 2014). The frequency at which the drive is correctly copied might be increased by using Cas9 as a transcriptional regulator to activate HR genes and repress NHEJ genes (Gilbert et al., 2013; Mali et al., 2013a) (Figure 4—figure supplement ).1 By choosing target sites within an essential gene, any non-homologous end-joining event that deletes all of the target sites will cause lethality rather than creating a drive-resistant allele, further increasing the evolutionary robustness of the RNA-guided gene drive. Other options include using distinct promoters and guide RNAs to avoid repetitiveness and increase stability (Figure 4—figure supplement )2 or employing newly characterized, engineered, or evolved Cas9 variants with improved properties (Esvelt et al., 2011; Mali et al., 2013b). These optimization strategies have also been summarized in tabular form with additional details (Figure 4—figure supplement ).3 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.005 The following figure supplements are available for figure 4: Figure supplement 1. Enhancing drive copying by regulating endogenous genes. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.006 Figure supplement 2. Repetitiveness and evolutionary stability of multiple guide RNAs. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.007 Figure supplement 3. Table of known technological advances that might be adapted to optimize gene drive efficiency. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.008

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 7 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

due to a lower rate of HR in fruit fly spermatocytes long enough to accumulate mutations at all of relative to mosquitoes (Chan et al., 2013b). Ideally, the sites so long as cutting rates are high (Burt, drives should be activated only in germline cells at 2003). However, very large populations – such developmental stages with a high rate of HR, but as those of some insects – might require unfea- this may be challenging in many species. sibly large numbers of guide RNAs to prevent Copying efficiencies may also depend on whether resistance. In these cases it may be necessary the cut produces 5′-overhangs, 3′-overhangs, or to release several successive gene drives, each blunt ends (Kuhar et al., 2014). Because Cas9 targeting multiple sites, to overcome resistant nickases can generate either overhang type while alleles as they emerge. From an evolutionary Cas9 nucleases produce blunt ends, the enzyme perspective, the ability to preclude resistance can be adapted to the needs of the cell type and by targeting multiple sites is the single greatest organism. advantage of RNA-guided gene drives. The ability to regulate gene expression with We propose to extend this strategy by prefer- Cas9 might be used to temporarily increase the entially targeting multiple sites within the 3′ ends rate of homologous recombination while the of genes important for fitness such that any repair drive is active (Figure 4). For instance, the Cas9 event that deletes all of the target sites creates nuclease involved in cutting might simultaneously a deleterious allele that cannot compete with repress (Gilbert et al., 2013) genes involved in the spread of the drive (Figure 4). Whenever the NHEJ and therefore increase the frequency of HR drive is copied, the cut gene is replaced with (Bozas et al., 2009) if supplied with a shortened a recoded version flanked by the other compo- guide RNA that directs it to bind and block nents of the drive. Recent work has demon- transcription but not cut (Bikard et al., 2013; strated that most genes can be substantially Sternberg et al., 2014). Alternatively, an orthog- recoded with little effect on organism fitness onal nuclease-null Cas9 protein (Esvelt et al., (Lajoie et al., 2013); the 3′ untranslated region 2013) encoded within the drive cassette could might be replaced with an equivalent sequence repress NHEJ genes and activate HR genes from a related gene. Because there would be before activating the Cas9 nuclease. Lastly, Cas9 no homology between the recoded cut site and might be used directly recruit key HR-directing the drive components, the drive cassette would proteins to the cut sites, potentially biasing repair always be copied as a unit. towards that pathway. Relative to drive-resistant alleles, inhibitors of Cas9 are less likely to arise given the historical Evolutionary stability absence of RNA-guided nucleases from eukary- otes. Any inhibitors that do evolve would presum- Even a perfectly efficient endonuclease gene ably target a particular Cas9 protein or guide RNA drive is vulnerable to the evolution of drive resist- used in an earlier drive and could be evaded by ance in the population. Whenever a cut is repaired building future drives using a Cas9 ortholog with a using the NHEJ pathway, the result is typically a different guide RNA (Esvelt et al., 2013; Fonfara drive-resistant allele with insertions or dele- et al., 2013). Alternatively and least likely, organ- tions in the target sequence that prevent it isms might evolve higher RNase activity to prefer- from being cut by the endonuclease. Natural entially degrade all guide RNAs; this may be difficult sequence polymorphisms in the population could to accomplish without harming overall fitness. also prevent cutting. These alleles will typically A final evolutionary concern relates to the increase in abundance and eventually eliminate stability of the gene drive cassette itself. The zinc- the drive because most drives – like most finger nuclease and TALEN-based gene drives in transgenes – are likely to slightly reduce the fit- fruit flies suffered from recombination between ness of the organism. A second path to gene repetitive sequences: only 75% and 40% of each drive resistance would involve the target organism respective drive was sufficiently intact after one evolving a method of specifically inhibiting the copying event to catalyze a second round of drive endonuclease. copying. Because RNA-guided gene drives will The best defense against previously existing not include such highly repetitive elements, they or recently evolved drive-resistant alleles is to are likely to be more stable (Figure 4). target multiple sites. Because mutations in tar- get sites are evolutionarily favored only when Development time they survive confrontation with the gene drive, using many target sites can render it statisti- RNA-guided genome editing is advancing at a cally improbable for any one allele to survive historically unprecedented pace. Because it is

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 8 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

now much easier to make transgenic organisms and therefore candidate gene drives, the design- build-test cycle for gene drives will often be Box 1. Could gene limited only by the generation time of the organism drives alter human in the laboratory. Moreover, many advances from genome engineering can be directly applied to populations? RNA-guided gene drives. For example, all of the methods of increasing Cas9 specificity described Not unless we wait for many centuries. above were developed for RNA-guided genome Even in a hypothetical future in which editing in the past 2 years. Future methods of human germline editing was considered increasing the rate of HR relative to NHEJ would safe and ethical, a driven alteration would be useful for both technologies. These factors be only four times as abundant as a suggest that scientists will enjoy an increasing non-driven alteration a full century after the number of tools well-suited to rapidly building birth of an edited human. This assumes and testing gene drives in addition to those we future generations would not elect to describe above. remove the drive. Whole-genome se- None of this is to gloss over the many practical quencing - a technology that is available in difficulties that are likely to arise when construct- many modern hospitals and is widely ing a particular gene drive in a given species. expected to be ubiquitous in the near Early success is as unlikely as ever when engi- future - is quite capable of detecting the neering complex biological systems. But if half a presence of any gene drive if we decide to dozen or even a dozen design-build-test cycles look. are sufficient to produce moderately efficient gene drives, many molecular biology laboratories around the world will soon be capable of engi- neering wild populations. category includes all viruses and bacteria as well as most unicellular organisms. Highly effi- Gene drive limitations cient standard drives might be able to slowly spread through populations that employ a mix Given their potentially widespread availability, it of sexual and asexual reproduction, such as cer- will be essential to develop a comprehensive tain plants, but drives intended to suppress the understanding of the fundamental limitations of population would presumably force target genetic drive systems. organisms to reproduce asexually in order to First and most important, gene drives require avoid suppression. many generations to spread through popula- Third, drive-mediated genome alterations are tions. Once transgenic organisms bearing the not permanent on an evolutionary timescale. gene drive are constructed in the laboratory, While gene drives can spread traits through pop- they must be released into the wild to mate with ulations even if they are costly to each individual wild-type individuals in order to begin the pro- organism, harmful traits will eventually be out- cess of spreading the drive through the wild competed by more fit alleles after the drive has population. The total time required to spread gone to fixation. Highly deleterious traits may be to all members depends on the number of drive- eliminated even more quickly, with non-functional carrying individuals that are released, the gener- versions appearing in large numbers even before ation time of the organism, the efficiency of the drive and its cargo can spread to all members homing, the impact of the drive on individual of the population. Even when the trait is perfectly fitness, and the dynamics of mating and gene linked to the drive mechanism, the selection pres- flow in the population, but in general it will take sure favoring the continued function of Cas9 and several dozen generations (Burt, 2003; Huang the guide RNAs will relax once the drive reaches et al., 2007; Deredec et al., 2008; Marshall, fixation. Maintaining deleterious traits within a 2009; Yahara et al., 2009; Deredec et al., population indefinitely is likely to require sched- 2011). Thus, drives will spread very quickly in uled releases of new RNA-guided gene drives to fast-reproducing species but only slowly in long- periodically overwrite the broken versions in the lived organisms. environment. Second, gene drives cannot affect species Fourth, our current knowledge of the risk that exclusively practice asexual reproduction management (Scott et al., 2002; Touré et al., through clonal division or self-fertilization. This 2004; UNEP, 2010; McGraw and O’Neill, 2013;

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 9 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Alphey, 2014) and containment (Benedict et ability of RNA-guided gene drives to target any al., 2008; Marshall, 2009) issues associated gene may allow them to control the effects of with gene drives is largely due to the efforts of other gene drives or transgenes. researchers focused on mosquito-borne illnesses. Frameworks for evaluating ecological conse- Reversibility quences are similarly focused on mosquitoes RNA-guided gene drives could reverse genome (David et al., 2013) and the few other organisms alterations that have already spread through for which alternative genetic biocontrol methods populations. Suppose a given gene drive causes have been considered (Dana et al., 2014). While unexpected side-effects or is released without these examples provide an invaluable starting public consent. A ‘reversal’ drive released later point for investigations of RNA-guided gene could overwrite one or all genomic changes drives targeting other organisms, studies examin- spread by the first drive (Figure 5A). The new ing the particular drive, population, and associ- sequence spread by the reversal drive must also ated ecosystem in question will be needed. be recoded relative to the original to keep the Safeguards and control strategies first drive from cutting it, but any changes introduced by the first drive could be Given the potential for gene drives to alter undone. If necessary, a third drive could restore entire wild populations and therefore ecosys- the exact wild-type sequence, leaving only the tems, the development of this technology must guide RNAs and the gene encoding Cas9 as include robust safeguards and methods of con- signatures of past editing (Figure 5B). trol (Oye et al., 2014). Whereas existing gene The ability to update or reverse genomic altera- drive proposals focus on adding genes (Ito et al., tions at the speed of a drive, not just a drive-resist- 2002), disrupting existing genes (Burt, 2003), ant allele, represents an extremely important safety or suppressing populations, RNA-guided gene feature. Reversal drives could also remove conven- drives will also be capable of replacing existing tionally inserted transgenes that entered wild popu- sequences with altered versions that have been lations by cross-breeding or natural mutations that recoded to remove the sites targeted by the spread in response to human-induced selective drive (Figure 3). We hypothesize that the unique pressures. However, it is important to note that even if a reversal drive were to reach all members of the population, any ecological changes caused in the interim would not necessarily be reversed. Box 2. Could gene drives Immunization alter domesticated RNA-guided gene drives could be used to block animals or crops? the spread of other gene drives. For example, an ‘immunizing’ drive could prevent a specific In theory they could, though probably unwanted drive from being copied by recoding not without the permission of the sequences targeted by the unwanted drive farmers, scientists and breeders who (Figure 5A). This could be done preemptively typically monitor reproduction. For or reactively and would spread on a timescale example, genetic records and artificial comparable to that of the unwanted drive. A insemination are so common among combined ‘immunizing reversal’ drive might cattle and other domesticated animals spread through both wild-type individuals and that it would be exceedingly difficult those affected by an earlier gene drive, con- for a gene drive to spread through any verting both types to a recoded version that of these species. Seed farms play a could not be invaded by the unwanted drive similar role for crops. Long generation (Figure 5B). This may represent the fastest method times will represent a further barrier for of neutralizing an already-released drive. As many domesticated species. In general, with a standard reversal drive, any ecological our expectation is that beneficial changes caused in the interim would not neces- applications are more likely to involve sarily be reversed. the alteration of weeds and insect pest populations rather than the crops Precisely targeting subpopulations themselves. RNA-guided gene drives might be confined to a single genetically distinct target species

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 10 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Figure 5. Methods of reversing, preventing, and controlling the spread and effects of gene drives. (A) Reversal drives could correct or reverse genomic alterations made by an earlier drive with unexpected side effects. They might also be used to reverse conventionally engineered or evolved changes. Immunization drives could prevent other gene drives from affecting a specific population or provide a population with resistance to DNA viruses. Precision drives could exclusively spread through a subpopulation with a unique gene or sequence. (B) Together, these can quickly halt an unwanted drive and eventually restore the sequence to the original wild-type save for the residual Cas9 and guide RNAs. (C) Any population with limited gene flow can be given a unique sequence by releasing drives A and B in quick succession. So long as drive A does not escape into other populations before it is completely replaced by drive B, subsequent precision drives can target population B without risking spread into other populations. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.009

or even a subpopulation by targeting unique genes the equivalent non-target sequence (Fu et al., or sequence polymorphisms. Because these ‘pre- 2013; Hsu et al., 2013; Mali et al., 2013a; cision drives’ will only cut the unique sequence, Pattanayak et al., 2013). they will not be able to spread through non-tar- Populations that are not genetically distinct get populations as long as that sequence is suffi- but experience only intermittent gene flow, such ciently distinct. We estimate that either the PAM as those on islands, might be given a unique or at least five base pairs of the spacer must differ sequence permitting them to be specifically within each target site in order to prevent the targeted by precision drives later on. For exam- guide RNAs in the drive from evolving to recognize ple, releasing Drive A into the island population

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 11 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

would recode a target gene, but exhibit no their effectiveness. Periodically releasing organ- other effect (Figure 5A). Releasing Drive B, a isms carrying new unstable drives that are capable precision drive which would exclusively spread of replacing earlier broken versions could extend through Drive A but not the wild-type allele, the suppression effect. would similarly replace Drive A with a unique Genetic approaches to population control sequence. So long as Drive A does not escape might initiate suppression only when two distinct the island before being replaced, the unique ‘interacting drives’ encounter one another sequence in the island population would allow it (Figure 6). For example, a cross between standard to be targeted with future precision drives that drives A and B might produce sterile females and could not spread through mainland populations fertile males that pass on the ‘sterile-daughter’ (Figure 5C). trait when crossed with females of any type. Scattering A- and B-carrying individuals through- Limiting population suppression out an existing population would produce many tiny pockets dominated by either A or B and very Population suppression may be one of the most few organisms in between due to the infertility of powerful applications of gene drives. The previ- AB females. Because each drive would spread ously described genetic load and sex-biasing from a small number of initially released individu- drives (Burt, 2003) could potentially lead to als scattered over a wide area, this strategy may extinction (Deredec et al., 2008, 2011). While be capable of large-scale population suppression, this outcome may be necessary to achieve com- but its effectiveness and resolution will depend pelling goals such as the eradication of malaria, on the average distance between released A and other situations may call for more refined meth- B individuals. Further suppressing the residual A ods. Here we outline a handful of alternative and B populations could be accomplished by architectures that would provide greater control releasing only members of the opposite drive type. over the extent of population suppression. Modeling studies will be needed to determine Chemical approaches to population control whether this possibility is feasible for different spe- might utilize ‘sensitizing drives’ to render target cies. Interestingly, the use of this drive type would organisms vulnerable to a particular molecule effectively induce speciation in the affected using one of three strategies (Figure 6). First, a population. sensitizing drive might reverse known mutations Finally, immunizing drives might protect spe- that confer resistance to existing pesticides or cific subpopulations from the effects of full-scale herbicides. Second, it might carry a prodrug- suppression drives released elsewhere (Figure 6). converting enzyme (Schellmann et al., 2010) that Assuming some degree of gene flow, the immu- would render a prodrug molecule toxic to organisms nized population will eventually replace the sup- that express it. Third, it could swap a conserved pressed population, though this might be delayed gene for a version that is strongly inhibited by if crossing the two drives generates a sterile- a particular small molecule. Because sensitizing daughter effect as described above. Due to the drives would have no effect in the absence of comparatively uncontrolled spread of both drive their associated molecule – and in some cases types through the wild-type population, this vice versa – they could grant very fine control over method would only be suited to large geographic the geography and extent of population suppres- areas or subpopulations with limited gene flow. sion with minimal ecological risk. For example, immunization might be used to pro- Temporal approaches to controlling populations tect the native population of a species while sup- would deliberately limit the lifetime of a suppres- pressing or eradicating populations on other sion drive by rendering its effects evolutionarily continents. unstable (Figure 6). For example, a male- determining or female-specific sterility gene car- Applications of RNA-guided gene ried by a standard drive on an autosome would drives suppress the target population, but the effect would be short-lived because any drive that RNA-guided gene drives have the potential to acquired a loss-of-function mutation in the cargo merge the fields of genomic and ecological engi- gene would be strongly favored by natural selec- neering. They may enable us to address numerous tion due to its ability to produce fertile female problems in global health, agriculture, sustaina- offspring. Notably, turning existing female-specific bility, ecological science, and many other areas sterility lines (Fu et al., 2010; Labbe et al., 2012; (Figure 7). Of these opportunities, perhaps the Alphey, 2014) into unstable drives may increase most compelling involve curtailing the spread

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 12 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Figure 6. Controlling population suppression. Previously proposed genetic load and meiotic suppression drives spread without limit and may incur a substantial risk of extinction. Alternative gene drive types might be used to grant finer control over the extent of suppression. ‘Sensitization drives’ would be harmless save for conferring vulnerability to a particular chemical, which could then be used as a population-specific pesticide. Evolutionarily ‘unstable drives’ would place a limit on the average number of drive copying events and thus the extent of population suppression. ‘Interacting drives’ would initiate suppression only upon encountering a specific genetic signature in the population, in this case a different gene drive. The combination would create a sterile-daughter effect (Figure 6—figure supplement )1 capable of continuing suppression for several generations. Finally, an immunizing drive could protect a subpopulation from a full genetic load or male- biasing suppression drive employed elsewhere. Interacting drive and immunizing drive approaches would be effective on very large populations spread across substantial geographic areas (Figure 6—figure supplement 2) while suffering from correspondingly reduced geographic resolution and greater ecological risk (Figure 6—figure supplement ).3 Resolutions are approximations only and will vary with the specific drive utilized in each class. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.010 The following figure supplements are available for figure 6: Figure supplement 1. Sample interacting drives that produce a sterile-daughter effect. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.011

Figure 6. Continued on next page

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 13 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Figure 6. Continued Figure supplement 2. An extreme example of ecological management: the use of suppression and immunizing drives to control rat populations worldwide. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.012 Figure supplement 3. Characteristics of population suppression drives. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.013

species to block transmission. Several laborato- ries have identified candidate gene disruptions or Box 3. What types of transgenes that interfere with the transmission of genes can be edited malaria (Ito et al., 2002; Dong et al., 2011; Isaacs et al., 2012) and other well-studied dis- using gene drives? eases (Franz et al., 2006). Depending on their effectiveness, these alterations may or may not Genes can be edited reliably if they are allow the disease to be eradicated before the important to fitness. This is because NHEJ pathogen evolves resistance. Alternatively, the events that create drive-resistant alleles relevant vector species might be suppressed or by deleting all the protospacer cut sites eliminated using RNA-guided gene drives, then will only be harmful if they disrupt the potentially reintroduced from sheltered laboratory function of important genes. NHEJ events or island populations once disease eradication is in unimportant genes and sequences will complete. In the case of malaria, gene drive strat- produce drive-resistant alleles lacking the egies may represent particularly effective solutions targeted sites. These will spread and to the emerging problem of mosquito vectors interfere with propagation of the drive. As with an evolved preference to bite and rest out- a result, unimportant genes can be doors, traits that render them resistant to current reliably disrupted or deleted but not control strategies based on indoor insecticide edited. spraying and bednets. Genes that are carried as cargo will not be evolutionarily stable unless they directly Agricultural safety and sustainability contribute to the efficient function of the drive. This limits opportunities to spread The evolution of resistance to pesticides and transgenes unrelated to drive function, herbicides is a major problem for agriculture. It although periodically releasing new has been assumed that resistant populations will drives that overwrite earlier broken remain resistant unless the relevant alleles impose versions could potentially maintain a substantial fitness cost in the absence of pesti- functional cargo genes in a large fraction cide or herbicide. We propose that RNA-guided of the population. sensitizing drives might replace resistant alleles with their ancestral equivalents to restore vulnera- bility. For example, sensitizing drives could poten- tially reverse the mutations allowing the western of vector-borne infectious diseases, controlling corn rootworm to resist Bt toxins (Gassmann agricultural pests, and reducing populations of et al., 2014) or horseweed and pigweed to resist environmentally and economically destructive the herbicide glyphosate (Gaines et al., 2010; invasive species. Ge, 2010), which is currently essential to more sustainable no-till agriculture. Because these Eradicating insect-borne diseases three organisms undergo one generation per The human toll inflicted by infectious diseases year, comparatively large numbers of drive-bear- spread by insects is staggering. Malaria alone kills ing individuals must be released to quickly exert over 650,000 people each year, most of them an effect, but fewer than are already released to children, while afflicting 200 million more with control pests using the sterile-insect technique debilitating fevers (WHO, 2013). Dengue, yellow (Gould and Schliekelman, 2004; Dyck et al., fever, chikungunya, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, 2005). Releases would need to occur in local Chagas, and Lyme disease are also spread by areas not treated with pesticide or herbicide, insects. These afflictions could potentially be which would quickly become reservoirs of sensi- controlled or even eradicated by altering vector tizing drives that could spread into adjacent

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 14 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

fields. Periodically releasing new drives could po- tentially allow any given pesticide or herbicide to be utilized indefinitely. Modeling experiments will be needed to evaluate feasibility for different target species. A second form of sensitizing drive could potentially render pest populations vulnerable to molecules that never previously affected them. For example, a gene important to fitness might be replaced with a version from another species or laboratory isolate whose function is sensitive to a particular compound. In principle, this approach could eventually lead to the development and use of safer and more species-specific pesticides and herbicides.

Controlling invasive species One of the most environmentally damaging consequences of global economic activity is the introduction of invasive species, which often cause ecological disruption or even the extinc- tion of native species. Isolated ecosystems such as those on small islands are especially vulner- able. RNA-guided suppression drives might be used to promote biodiversity by controlling or even eradicating invasive species from islands Figure 7. Potential applications of RNA-guided gene or possibly entire continents. The economics of drives. Clockwise from left. Disease vectors such as malarial mosquitoes might be engineered to resist invasive species control are also compelling: pathogen acquisition or eliminated with a suppression the top ten invasives in the United States cause drive. Wild populations that serve as reservoirs for an estimated $42 billion in damages every year human viruses could be immunized using Cas9, RNAi (Pimentel et al., 2005). Black and brown rats machinery, or elite controller antibodies carried by a alone cause $19 billion in damages and may be gene drive. Reversal and immunization drives could responsible for more extinctions than any other help ensure that all transgenes are safe and controlled. nonhuman species. Drives might quickly spread protective genes through Deploying RNA-guided suppression drives threatened or soon-to-be-threatened species such as against invasive species will incur two primary amphibians facing the expansion of chytrid fungus risks related to undesired spread. First, rare mating (Rosenblum et al., 2010). Invasive species might be events may allow the drive to affect closely locally controlled or eradicated without directly affecting others. Sensitizing drives could improve the related species. Using precision drives to target sustainability and safety of pesticides and herbicides. sequences unique to the invasive species could Gene drives could test ecological hypotheses mitigate or eliminate this problem. Second, the concerning gene flow, sex ratios, speciation, and suppression drive might spread from the invasive evolution. Technical requirements for these population back into the native habitat, perhaps applications vary with the drive type required even through intentional human action. (Figure 7—figure supplement ).1 Native populations might be protected using DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.014 an immunizing drive, but doing so would risk The following figure supplement is available for transferring immunity back into invasive popu- figure 7: lations. Instead, we might grant the invasive Figure supplement 1. Technical limitations of different population a unique sequence with a standard gene drive architectures with implications for various drive (Figure 5C), verify that these changes have applications. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.015 not spread to the native population, and only then release a suppression drive targeting the recoded sequences while holding an immunizing drive in reserve. Another approach might utilize a sensitizing drive to render all populations newly

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 15 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

vulnerable to a specific compound, which could then be used as a pesticide for the local control of invasive populations. All of these possibili- ties will require modeling and experimentation to establish safety and feasibility before use. Most importantly, all decisions involving the use of suppression drives must involve extensive delib- erations including but not limited to ecologists and citizens of potentially affected communities.

Development and release precautions Because any consequences of releasing RNA- guided gene drives into the environment would be shared by the local if not global community, research involving gene drives capable of spreading through wild-type populations should occur only after a careful and fully transparent Figure 8. Containment strategies and ecological risk. review process. However, basic research into gene Ecological containment involves building and testing gene drives in geographic areas that do not harbor drives and methods of controlling their effects can native populations of the target species. For example, proceed without risking this type of spread so most gene drive studies involving tropical malarial long as appropriate ecological or molecular con- mosquitoes have been conducted in temperate regions tainment strategies are employed (Figure 8). in which the mosquitoes cannot survive or find mates. A great deal of information on probable eco- Molecular containment ensures that the basic require- logical outcomes can be obtained without testing ments for drive are not met when mated with wild-type or even building replication-competent gene organisms. True drives must cut the homologous drives. For example, early studies might examine wild-type sequence and copy both the gene encoding possible ecological effects by performing con- Cas9 and the guide RNAs. Experiments that cut tained field trials with organisms that have been transgenic sequences absent from wild populations and engineered to contain the desired change but copy either the gene encoding Cas9 or the guide RNAs - but not both - should be quite safe. Ecological or do not possess a functional drive to spread it. molecular containment should allow basic research into Because they do involve transgenic organisms, gene drive effectiveness and optimization to be these experiments are not completely without pursued with negligible risk. Figure 8—figure risk, but such transgenes are unlikely to spread in supplement 1 categorizes these and many other the absence of a drive. possible experiments according to estimated risk. We recommend that all laboratories seeking DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.016 to build standard gene drives capable of spreading The following figure supplement is available for figure 8: through wild populations simultaneously create Figure supplement 1. Estimated ecological risk of reversal drives able to restore the original pheno- experiments during RNA-guided gene drive type. Similarly, suppression drives should be development. constructed in tandem with a corresponding DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401.017 immunizing drive. These precautions would allow the effects of an accidental release to be swiftly if partially counteracted. The prevalence of gene societal review and consent. As self-propagating drives in the environment could in principle be alterations of wild populations, RNA-guided gene monitored by targeted amplification or metagen- drives will be capable of influencing entire eco- omic sequencing of environmental samples. systems for good or for ill. As such, it is impera- Further investigation of possible monitoring tive that all research in this nascent field operate strategies will be needed. under conditions of full transparency, including independent scientific assessments of probable impacts and thoughtful, informed, and fully inclu- Transparency, public discussion, and evaluation sive public discussions. The decision of whether or not to utilize a Technologies with the potential to significantly gene drive for a given purpose should be based influence the lives of the general public demand entirely on the probable benefits and risks of

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 16 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

that specific drive. That is, each drive should be ecosystems (Drinkwater et al., 2014). We are judged solely by its potential outcomes, such as grateful to S Lightfoot, K Oye, JP Collins, and M its ability to accomplish the intended aims, its Wilkinson for critical reading of the manuscript, probable effects on other species, the risk of and to F Gould, T Wu, J Braff, and members of the spreading into closely related species by rare Church and Oye laboratories for helpful discus- mating events, and impacts on ecosystems and sions. KME was supported by a Wyss Technology human societies. As scientists developing these Development Fellowship. technologies, it will be our responsibility to make all empirical data and predictive models freely Funding available to the public in a transparent and under- Funder Grant Author standable format. Above all else, we must openly reference share our level of confidence in these assess- number ments as we determine how best to proceed. Wyss Institute Technology Kevin M Esvelt for Biologically Development Inspired Engineering Fellowship Discussion Wyss Institute Synthetic Kevin M Esvelt, The potentially widespread implications of for Biologically Biology Andrea L Smidler Inspired Engineering Platform RNA-guided gene drives demand a thoughtful funds and collected response. Numerous practical dif- The funders had no role in study design, data collection ficulties must be overcome before gene drives and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work will be in a position to address any of the sug- for publication. gested applications. Many of our proposals and predictions are likely to fall short simply because biological systems are complex and difficult to Author contributions engineer. Even so, the current rate of scientific KME, Conceived of the study, performed the analysis, advancement related to Cas9 and the many designed new drive types, drafted and revised the article; outcomes accessible using the simplest of gene ALS, Designed new drive types, drafted and revised the drives suggest that molecular biologists will article; FC, GMC, Revised the article soon be able to edit the genomes of wild popu- lations, reverse or update those changes in Kevin M Esvelt Synthetic Biology Platform, Wyss response to field observations, and perhaps even Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard engage in targeted population suppression. Medical School, Boston, United States What criteria might we use to evaluate an http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8797-3945 RNA-guided gene drive intended to address Andrea L Smidler Synthetic Biology Platform, Wyss a given problem? There are compelling argu- Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard ments in favor of eliminating insect-borne human Medical School, Boston, United States; Department of diseases, developing and supporting more sus- Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School tainable agricultural models, and controlling of Public Health, Boston, United States environmentally damaging invasive species. At http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3281-1161 the same time, there are valid concerns regarding Flaminia Catteruccia Department of Immunology and our ability to accurately predict the ecological Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, and human consequences of these interven- Boston, United States; Dipartimento di Medicina tions. By bringing these possibilities before the Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli scientific community and the public prior to their Studi di Perugia, Terni, Italy realization in the laboratory, we hope to initiate George M Church Synthetic Biology Platform, Wyss transparent, inclusive, and well-informed dis- Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard cussions concerning the responsible evaluation Medical School, Boston, United States and application of these nascent technologies Competing interests: KME: Filed for a patent (Oye et al., 2014). concerning RNA-guided gene drives. ALS: Filed for a patent concerning RNA-guided gene drives. GMC: Acknowledgements Filed for a patent concerning RNA-guided gene We thank the participants of the MIT/Woodrow drives. The other author declares that no competing Wilson Center workshop ‘Creating a Research interests exist. Agenda for the Ecological Implications of Synthetic Received 18 May 2014 Biology’ for sharing their thoughts concerning the Accepted 09 July 2014 potential impacts of this technology on various Published 17 July 2014

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 17 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

References in Drosophila. Science 316:597–600. doi: 10.1126/ Alphey N, Bonsall MB. 2014. Interplay of population science.1138595. genetics and dynamics in the genetic control Cho SW, Kim S, Kim JM, Kim J-S. 2013. Targeted of mosquitoes. Journal of the Royal Society: Interface genome engineering in human cells with the Cas9 11:20131071. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2013.1071. RNA-guided endonuclease. Nature Biotechnology Alphey L. 2014. Genetic control of mosquitoes. 31:230–232. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2507. Annual Review of Entomology 59:205–224. doi: Christian M, Cermak T, Doyle EL, Schmidt C, Zhang F, 10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162002. Hummel A, Bogdanove AJ, Voytas DF. 2010. Targeting Bassett AR, Tibbit C, Ponting CP, Liu J-L. 2013. Highly DNA double-strand breaks with TAL effector efficient targeted mutagenesis of Drosophila with nucleases. Genetics 186:757–761. doi: 10.1534/ the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Cell Reports 4:220–228. genetics.110.120717. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.06.020. Cong L, Ran FA, Cox D, Lin S, Barretto R, Habib N, Beeman RW, Friesen KS, Denell RE. 1992. Maternal- Hsu PD, Wu X, Jiang W, Marraffini LA, et al. 2013. effect selfish genes in flour beetles.Science 256:89–92. Multiplex genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas doi: 10.1126/science.1566060. systems. Science 339:819–823. doi: 10.1126/ Benedict M, D‘Abbs P, Dobson S, Gottlieb M, science.1231143. Harrington L, Higgs S, James A, James S, Knols B, Craig GB, Hickey WA, Vandehey RC. 1960. An inherited Lavery J, et al. 2008. Guidance for contained field trials male-producing factor in Aedes aegypti. Science of vector mosquitoes engineered to contain a gene 132:1887–1889. doi: 10.1126/science.132.3443.1887. drive system: recommendations of a scientific working Curtis CF. 1968. Possible use of translocations to fix group. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 8:127–166. desirable genes in insect pest populations. Nature doi: 10.1089/vbz.2007.0273. 218:368–369. doi: 10.1038/218368a0. Bikard D, Jiang W, Samai P, Hochschild A, Zhang F, Dana GV, Cooper AM, Pennington KM, Sharpe LS. Marraffini LA. 2013. Programmable repression and 2014. Methodologies and special considerations for activation of bacterial gene expression using an environmental risk analysis of genetically modified engineered CRISPR-Cas system. Nucleic Acids aquatic biocontrol organisms. Biological Invasions Research 41:7429–7437. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt520. 16:1257–1272. doi: 10.1007/s10530-012-0391-x. Bozas A, Beumer KJ, Trautman JK, Carroll D. 2009. David AS, Kaser JM, Morey AC, Roth AM, Andow DA. Genetic analysis of Zinc-Finger nuclease-induced gene 2013. Release of genetically engineered insects: a targeting in Drosophila. Genetics 182:641–651. framework to identify potential ecological effects. doi: 10.1534/genetics.109.101329. Ecology and Evolution 3:4000–4015. doi: 10.1002/ Burt A, Koufopanou V. 2004. Homing endonuclease ece3.737. genes: the rise and fall and rise again of a selfish Deltcheva E, Chylinski K, Sharma CM, Gonzales K, element. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development Chao Y, Pirzada ZA, Eckert MR, Vogel J, Charpentier E. 14:609–615. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2004.09.010. 2011. CRISPR RNA maturation by trans-encoded small Burt A, Trivers R. 2009. Genes in conflict: the biology RNA and host factor RNase III. Nature 471:602–607. of selfish genetic elements. Harvard University Press. doi: 10.1038/nature09886. Burt A. 2003. Site-specific selfish genes as tools Deredec A, Burt A, Godfray HCJ. 2008. The for the control and genetic engineering of natural population genetics of using homing endonuclease populations. Proceedings of the Biological Sciences B genes in vector and pest management. Genetics 270:921–928. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2319. 179:2013–2026. doi: 10.1534/genetics.108.089037. Burt A. 2014. Heritable strategies for controlling insect Deredec A, Godfray HCJ, Burt A. 2011. Requirements vectors of disease. Philosophical Transactions of the for effective malaria control with homing endonuclease Royal Society B 369:20130432. doi: 10.1098/ genes. Proceedings of the National Academy of rstb.2013.0432. Sciences USA 108:E874–E880. doi: 10.1073/pnas. Chan Y-S, Naujoks DA, Huen DS, Russell S. 2011. 1110717108. Insect population control by homing endonuclease- DiCarlo JE, Norville JE, Mali P, Rios X, Aach J, based gene drive: an evaluation in Drosophila Church GM. 2013. Genome engineering in melanogaster. Genetics 188:33–44. doi: 10.1534/ Saccharomyces cerevisiae using CRISPR-Cas systems. genetics.111.127506. Nucleic Acids Research 41:4336–4343. doi: 10.1093/ Chan Y-S, Takeuchi R, Jarjour J, Huen DS, Stoddard BL, nar/gkt135. Russell S. 2013a. The design and in vivo evaluation of Dickinson DJ, Ward JD, Reiner DJ, Goldstein B. 2013. engineered I-OnuI-based for HEG gene Engineering the Caenorhabditis elegans genome using drive. PLOS ONE 8:e74254. doi: 10.1371/journal. Cas9-triggered homologous recombination. Nature pone.0074254. Methods 10:1028–1034. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2641. Chan Y-S, Huen DS, Glauert R, Whiteway E, Russell S. Dong Y, Das S, Cirimotich C, Souza-Neto JA, McLean 2013b. Optimising homing endonuclease gene drive KJ, Dimopoulos G. 2011. Engineered anopheles performance in a semi-refractory species: the immunity to infection. PLOS Pathogens Drosophila melanogaster experience. PLOS ONE 7:e1002458. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002458. 8:e54130. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054130. Drinkwater K, Kuiken T, Lightfoot S, McNamara J, Charlesworth B, Langley CH. 1989. The population Oye K. 2014. Creating a research agenda for genetics of Drosophila transposable elements. Annual the ecological implications of synthetic biology. Review of Genetics 23:251–287. doi: 10.1146/annurev. At http://www.synbioproject.org/library/publications/ ge.23.120189.001343. archive/6685/. Chen C-H, Huang H, Ward CM, Su JT, Schaeffer LV, Dyck VA, Hendrichs J, Robinson AS. 2005. Sterile Guo M, Hay BA. 2007. A synthetic maternal-effect insect technique: principles and practice in area-wide selfish genetic element drives population replacement integrated pest management. Springer.

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 18 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Esvelt KM, Carlson JC, Liu DR. 2011. A system for the Ge X, d’Avignon DA, Ackerman JJ, Sammons RD. continuous directed evolution of biomolecules. Nature 2010. Rapid vacuolar sequestration: the horseweed 472:499–503. doi: 10.1038/nature09929. glyphosate resistance mechanism. Pest Management Esvelt KM, Mali P, Braff JL, Moosburner M, Yaung SJ, Science 66:345–348. doi: 10.1002/ps.1911. Church GM. 2013. Orthogonal Cas9 proteins for Gilbert LA, Larson MH, Morsut L, Liu Z, Brar GA, RNA-guided gene regulation and editing. Nature Torres SE, Stern-Ginossar N, Brandman O, Whitehead Methods 10:1116–1121. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2681. EH, Doudna JA, et al. 2013. CRISPR-mediated modular Esvelt KM, Wang HH. 2013. Genome-scale engineering RNA-guided regulation of transcription in . for systems and synthetic biology. Molecular Systems Cell 154:442–451. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.06.044. Biology 9:641. doi: 10.1038/msb.2012.66. Gould F, Schliekelman P. 2004. Population genetics of Fiorenza MT, Bevilacqua A, Bevilacqua S, Mangia F. autocidal control and strain replacement. Annual 2001. Growing dictyate oocytes, but not early Review of Entomology 49:193–217. doi: 10.1146/ preimplantation embryos, of the mouse display high annurev.ento.49.061802.123344. levels of DNA homologous recombination by single- Gratz SJ, Cummings AM, Nguyen JN, Hamm DC, strand annealing and lack DNA nonhomologous end Donohue LK, Harrison MM, Wildonger J, O‘Connor- joining. Developmental Biology 233:214–224. Giles KM. 2013. Genome engineering of Drosophila doi: 10.1006/dbio.2001.0199. with the CRISPR RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease. Genetics Fonfara I, Le Rhun A, Chylinski K, Makarova KS, 194:1029–1035. doi: 10.1534/genetics.113.152710. Lécrivain AL, Bzdrenga J, Koonin EV, Charpentier E. Guilinger JP, Thompson DB, Liu DR. 2014. Fusion of 2013. Phylogeny of Cas9 determines functional catalytically inactive Cas9 to FokI nuclease improves exchangeability of dual-RNA and Cas9 among the specificity of genome modification.Nature orthologous type II CRISPR-Cas systems. Nucleic Biotechnology 32:577–582. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2909. Acids Research 42:2577–2590. doi: 10.1093/nar/ Hamilton WD. 1967. Extraordinary sex ratios. A gkt1074. sex-ratio theory for sex linkage and inbreeding has new Franz AWE, Sanchez-Vargas I, Adelman ZN, Blair CD, implications in cytogenetics and entomology. Science Beaty BJ, James AA, Olson KE. 2006. Engineering 156:477–488. doi: 10.1126/science.156.3774.477. RNA interference-based resistance to dengue virus Hickey WA, Craig GB. 1966. Genetic distortion of type 2 in genetically modified Aedes aegypti. sex ratio in a mosquito, Aedes aegypti. Genetics Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 53:1177–1196. USA 103:4198–4203. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0600479103. Hsu PD, Scott DA, Weinstein JA, Ran FA, Konermann Friedland AE, Tzur YB, Esvelt KM, Colaiácovo MP, S, Agarwala V, Li Y, Fine EJ, Wu X, Shalem O, et al. Church GM, Calarco JA. 2013. Heritable genome 2013. DNA targeting specificity of RNA-guided Cas9 editing in C. elegans via a CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nature nucleases. Nature Biotechnology 31:827–832. Methods 10:741–743. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2532. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2647. Fu G, Lees RS, Nimmo D, Aw D, Jin L, Gray P, Hu S, Wang Z, Polejaeva I. 2013. Knockout of goat Berendonk TU, White-Cooper H, Scaife S, Kim Phuc H, nucleoporin 155 gene using CRISPR/Cas systems. et al. 2010. Female-specific flightless phenotype for Reproduction, Fertility, and Development 26:134. mosquito control. Proceedings of the National doi: 10.1071/RDv26n1Ab40. Academy of Sciences USA 107:4550–4554. doi: Huang Y, Magori K, Lloyd AL, Gould F. 2007. 10.1073/pnas.1000251107. Introducing desirable transgenes into insect populations Fu Y, Foden JA, Khayter C, Maeder ML, Reyon D, using Y-linked meiotic drive - a theoretical assessment. Joung JK, Sander JD. 2013. High-frequency off-target Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution mutagenesis induced by CRISPR-Cas nucleases in 61:717–726. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2007.00075.x. human cells. Nature Biotechnology 31:822–826. Hwang WY, Fu Y, Reyon D, Maeder ML, Tsai SQ, doi: 10.1038/nbt.2623. Sander JD, Peterson RT, Yeh JR, Joung JK. 2013. Fu Y, Sander JD, Reyon D, Cascio VM, Joung JK. Efficient genome editing in zebrafish using a CRISPR- 2014. Improving CRISPR-Cas nuclease specificity using Cas system. Nature Biotechnology 31:227–229. truncated guide RNAs. Nature Biotechnology doi: 10.1038/nbt.2501. 32:279–284. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2808. Isaacs AT, Jasinskiene N, Tretiakov M, Thiery I, Zettor A, Gaines TA, Zhang W, Wang D, Bukun B, Chisholm ST, Bourgouin C, James AA. 2012. Transgenic Anopheles Shaner DL, Nissen SJ, Patzoldt WL, Tranel PJ, stephensi coexpressing single-chain antibodies resist Culpepper AS, et al. 2010. Gene amplification confers Plasmodium falciparum development. Proceedings of the glyphosate resistance in Amaranthus palmeri. National Academy of Sciences USA 109:E1922–E1930. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences doi: 10.1073/pnas.1207738109. USA 107:1029–1034. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0906649107. Ito J, Ghosh A, Moreira LA, Wimmer EA, Jacobs- Galizi R, Doyle LA, Menichelli M, Bernardini F, Lorena M. 2002. Transgenic anopheline mosquitoes Deredec A, Burt A, Stoddard BL, Windbichler N, impaired in transmission of a malaria parasite. Nature Crisanti A. 2014. A synthetic sex ratio distortion 417:452–455. doi: 10.1038/417452a. system for the control of the human malaria mosquito. Jiang W, Bikard D, Cox D, Zhang F, Marraffini LA. Nature Communications 5:3977. doi: 10.1038/ 2013a. RNA-guided editing of bacterial genomes ncomms4977. using CRISPR-Cas systems. Nature Biotechnology Gassmann AJ, Petzold-Maxwell JL, Clifton EH, Dunbar 31:233–239. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2508. MW, Hoffmann AM, Ingber DA, Keweshan RS. 2014. Jiang W, Zhou H, Bi H, Fromm M, Yang B, Weeks DP. Field-evolved resistance by western corn rootworm to 2013b. Demonstration of CRISPR/Cas9/sgRNA- multiple Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in transgenic mediated targeted gene modification in Arabidopsis, maize. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences tobacco, sorghum and rice. Nucleic Acids Research USA 111:5141–5146. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1317179111. 41:e188. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt780.

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 19 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

Jinek M, Chylinski K, Fonfara I, Hauer M, Doudna JA, Theoretical Biology 258:250–265. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi. Charpentier E. 2012. A programmable dual-RNA- 2009.01.031. guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial McGraw EA, O’Neill SL. 2013. Beyond insecticides: immunity. Science 337:816–821. doi: 10.1126/ new thinking on an ancient problem. Nature Reviews science.1225829. Microbiology 11:181–193. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro2968. Jinek M, East A, Cheng A, Lin S, Ma E, Doudna J. Newton ME, Wood RJ, Southern DI. 1976. A 2013. RNA-programmed genome editing in human cytogenetic analysis of meiotic drive in the cells. eLife 2:e00471. doi: 10.7554/eLife.00471. mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L.). Genetica 46:297–318. Kondo S, Ueda R. 2013. Highly improved gene doi: 10.1007/BF00055473. targeting by germline-specific Cas9 expression in Nishimasu H, Ran FA, Hsu PD, Konermann S, Shehata Drosophila. Genetics 195:715–721. doi: 10.1534/ SI, Dohmae N, Ishitani R, Zhang F, Nureki O. 2014. genetics.113.156737. Crystal structure of Cas9 in complex with guide RNA Kuhar R, Gwiazda KS, Humbert O, Mandt T, and target DNA. Cell 156:935–949. doi: 10.1016/j. Pangallo J, Brault M, Khan I, Maizels N, Rawlings DJ, cell.2014.02.001. Scharenberg AM, et al. 2014. Novel fluorescent Nissim L, Perli SD, Fridkin A, Perez-Pinera P, Lu TK. genome editing reporters for monitoring DNA repair 2014. Multiplexed and programmable regulation of pathway utilization at endonuclease-induced breaks. gene networks with an integrated RNA and CRISPR/ Nucleic Acids Research 42:e4. doi: 10.1093/nar/ Cas toolkit in human cells. Molecular Cell 54:698–710. gkt872. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2014.04.022. Labbe GMC, Scaife S, Morgan SA, Curtis ZH, Alphey L. North A, Burt A, Godfray HCJ. 2013. Modelling the 2012. Female-specific flightless (fsRIDL) phenotype for spatial spread of a homing endonuclease gene in a control of Aedes albopictus. PLOS Neglected Tropical mosquito population. Journal of Applied Ecology Diseases 6:e1724. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001724. 50:1216–1225. Lajoie MJ, Kosuri S, Mosberg JA, Gregg CJ, Zhang D, Oye KA, Esvelt KM, Appleton E, Catteruccia F, Church GM. 2013. Probing the limits of genetic Church GM, Kuiken T, Lightfoot SB-Y, McNamara J, recoding in essential genes. Science 342:361–363. Smidler AL, Collins JP. 2014. Regulating gene drives. doi: 10.1126/science.1241460. Science. doi: 10.1126/science.1254287. Li J, Wang X, Zhang G, Githure JI, Yan G, James AA. Pattanayak V, Lin S, Guilinger JP, Ma E, Doudna JA, 2013a. Genome-block expression-assisted association Liu DR. 2013. High-throughput profiling of off-target studies discover malaria resistance genes in Anopheles DNA cleavage reveals RNA-programmed Cas9 gambiae. Proceedings of the National Academy nuclease specificity. Nature Biotechnology 31:839–843. of Sciences USA 110:20675–20680. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2673. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1321024110. Pimentel D, Zuniga R, Morrison D. 2005. Update on Li D, Qiu Z, Shao Y, Chen Y, Guan Y, Liu M, Li Y, Gao N, the environmental and economic costs associated with Wang L, Lu X, et al. 2013b. Heritable in alien-invasive species in the United States. Ecological the mouse and rat using a CRISPR-Cas system. Nature Economics 52:273–288. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon. Biotechnology 31:681–683. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2661. 2004.10.002. Li W, Teng F, Li T, Zhou Q. 2013c. Simultaneous Preston CR, Flores CC, Engels WR. 2006. Differential generation and germline transmission of multiple gene usage of alternative pathways of double-strand break mutations in rat using CRISPR-Cas systems. Nature repair in Drosophila. Genetics 172:1055–1068. Biotechnology 31:684–686. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2652. doi: 10.1534/genetics.105.050138. Lyttle TW. 1977. Experimental population genetics of Reeves RG, Denton JA, Santucci F, Bryk J, Reed FA. meiotic drive systems. I. Pseudo-Y chromosomal drive 2012. Scientific standards and the regulation of as a means of eliminating cage populations of genetically modified insects.PLOS Neglected Tropical Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 86:413–445. Diseases 6:e1502. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001502. Lyttle TW. 1991. Segregation distorters. Annual Rosenblum EB, Voyles J, Poorten TJ, Stajich JE. 2010. Review of Genetics 25:511–557. doi: 10.1146/annurev. The deadly chytrid fungus: a story of an emerging ge.25.120191.002455. pathogen. PLOS Pathogens 6:e1000550. doi: 10.1371/ Mali P, Aach J, Stranges PB, Esvelt KM, Moosburner journal.ppat.1000550. M, Kosuri S, Yang L, Church GM. 2013a. CAS9 Saleh-Gohari N, Helleday T. 2004. Conservative transcriptional activators for target specificity homologousrecombination preferentially repairs DNA screening and paired nickases for cooperative genome double-strand breaks in the S phase of the cell cycle in engineering. Nature Biotechnology 31:833–838. human cells. Nucleic Acids Research 32:3683–3688. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2675. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkh703. Mali P, Esvelt KM, Church GM. 2013b. Cas9 as a Schellmann N, Deckert PM, Bachran D, Fuchs H, versatile tool for engineering biology. Nature Methods Bachran C. 2010. Targeted enzyme prodrug therapies. 10:957–963. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2649. Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 10:887–904. Mali P, Yang L, Esvelt KM, Aach J, Guell M, DiCarlo JE, doi: 10.2174/138955710792007196. Norville JE, Church GM. 2013c. RNA-guided human Schliekelman P, Ellner S, Gould F. 2005. Pest control by genome engineering via Cas9. Science 339:823–826. genetic manipulation of sex ratio. Journal of Economic doi: 10.1126/science.1232033. Entomology 98:18–34. doi: 10.1603/0022-0493-98.1.18. Marshall JM, Hay BA. 2012. Confinement of gene Scott TW, Takken W, Knols BGJ, Boëte C. 2002. The drive systems to local populations: a comparative ecology of genetically modified mosquitoes.Science analysis. Journal of Theoretical Biology 294:153–171. 298:117–119. doi: 10.1126/science.298.5591.117. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2011.10.032. Shalem O, Sanjana NE, Hartenian E, Shi X, Scott DA, Marshall JM. 2009. The effect of gene drive on Mikkelsen TS, Heckl D, Ebert BL, Root DE, Doench JG, containment of transgenic mosquitoes. Journal of et al. 2014. Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knockout

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 20 of 21 Feature article Emerging technology | Concerning RNA-guided gene drives for the alteration of wild populations

screening in human cells. Science 343:84–87. endogenous human gene correction using designed doi: 10.1126/science.1247005. zinc-finger nucleases.Nature 435:646–651. Simoni A, Siniscalchi C, Chan YS, Huen DS, Russell S, doi: 10.1038/nature03556. Windbichler N, Crisanti A. 2014. Development of Wang H, Yang H, Shivalila CS, Dawlaty MM, Cheng synthetic selfish elements based on modular nucleases AW, Zhang F, Jaenisch R. 2013a. One-step generation in Drosophila melanogaster. Nucleic Acids Research of mice carrying mutations in multiple genes by 42:7461–7472. doi: 10.1093/nar/gku387. CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome engineering. Cell Sinkins SP, Gould F. 2006. Gene drive systems for 153:910–918. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.025. insect disease vectors. Nature Reviews Genetics Wang Y, Li Z, Xu J, Zeng B, Ling L, You L, Chen Y, 7:427–435. doi: 10.1038/nrg1870. Huang Y, Tan A. 2013b. The CRISPR/Cas System Sternberg SH, Redding S, Jinek M, Greene EC, mediates efficient genome engineering inBombyx Doudna JA. 2014. DNA interrogation by the CRISPR mori. Cell Research 23:1414–1416. doi: 10.1038/ RNA-guided endonuclease Cas9. Nature 507:62–67. cr.2013.146. doi: 10.1038/nature13011. Wang T, Wei JJ, Sabatini DM, Lander ES. 2014. Takeuchi R, Choi M, Stoddard BL. 2014. Redesign of Genetic screens in human cells using the CRISPR- extensive protein–DNA interfaces of Cas9 system. Science 343:80–84. doi: 10.1126/ using iterative cycles of in vitro compartmentalization. science.1246981. Proceedings National Academy of the Sciences of the Werren JH. 1997. Biology of wolbachia. Annual Review USA 111:4061–4066. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1321030111. of Entomology 42:587–609. doi: 10.1146/annurev. Tan W, Carlson DF, Lancto CA, Garbe JR, Webster DA, ento.42.1.587. Hackett PB, Fahrenkrug SC. 2013. Efficient nonmeiotic WHO. 2013. World malaria report. WHO. At allele introgression in livestock using custom http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world_ endonucleases. Proceedingsof the National Academy malaria_report_2013/en/. of Sciences USA 110:16526–16531. Windbichler N, Menichelli M, Papathanos PA, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1310478110. Thyme SB, Li H, Ulge UY, Hovde BT, Baker D, Thyme SB, Boissel SJ, Arshiya Quadri S, Nolan T, Monnat RJ Jnr, Burt A, et al. 2011. A synthetic Baker DA, Park RU, Kusak L, Ashworth J, Baker D. homing endonuclease-based gene drive system in 2013. Reprogramming homing endonuclease the human malaria mosquito. Nature 473:212–215. specificity through computational design and directed doi: 10.1038/nature09937. evolution. Nucleic Acids Research 42:2564–2576. Windbichler N, Papathanos PA, Catteruccia F, doi: 10.1093/nar/gkt1212. Ranson H, Burt A, Crisanti A. 2007. Homing Touré YT, Oduola AMJ, Sommerfeld J, Morel CM. endonuclease mediated gene targeting in Anopheles 2004. Biosafety and risk assessment in the use of gambiae cells and embryos. Nucleic Acids Research genetically modified mosquitoes for disease control. 35:5922–5933. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkm632. In: Knols BGJ, Louis C, editors. Bridging Laboratory Windbichler N, Papathanos PA, Crisanti A. 2008. and Field Research for Genetic Control of Disease Targeting the X chromosome during spermatogenesis Vectors. Springer/Frontis. p. 217–222. induces Y chromosome transmission ratio distortion Tsai SQ, Wyvekens N, Khayter C, Foden JA, Thapar V, and early dominant embryo lethality in Anopheles Reyon D, Goodwin MJ, Aryee MJ, Joung JK. 2014. gambiae. PLOS Genetics 4:e1000291. doi: 10.1371/ Dimeric CRISPR RNA-guided FokI nucleases for highly journal.pgen.1000291. specific genome editing.Nature Biotechnology Wood RJ, Cook LM, Hamilton A, Whitelaw A. 1977. 32:569–576. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2908. Transporting the marker gene re (red eye) into a UNEP. 2010. Final report of the Ad Hoc technical laboratory cage population of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: expert group on risk assessment and risk management Culicidae), using meiotic drive at the MD locus. Journal under the cartagena protocol on biosafety. At of Medical Entomology 14:461–464. http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/bs/bsrarm-02/ Wood RJ, Newton ME. 1991. Sex-ratio distortion official/bsrarm-02-05-en.pdf. caused by meiotic drive in mosquitoes. The American Upadhyay SK, Kumar J, Alok A, Tuli R. 2013. Naturalist 137:379–391. doi: 10.1086/285171. RNA-guided genome editing for target gene Yahara K, Fukuyo M, Sasaki A, Kobayashi I. 2009. mutations in wheat. G3 3:2233–2238. doi: 10.1534/ Evolutionary maintenance of selfish homing g3.113.008847. endonuclease genes in the absence of horizontal Urnov FD, Miller JC, Lee YL, Beausejour CM, transfer. Proceedings of the National Academy Rock JM, Augustus S, Jamieson AC, Porteus MH, of Sciences USA 106:18861–18866. Gregory PD, Holmes MC. 2005. Highly efficient doi: 10.1073/pnas.0908404106.

Esvelt et al. eLife 2014;3:e03401. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.03401 21 of 21