A Case of Non-Human Gene Editing

Modules

A Case of Non-Human Gene Editing

Instructions for:TraineeTrainer

Goal

Aim

The aim of this module is to facilitate reflection upon the ethics issues associated with the development and use of non-human gene editing in a research project.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module, learners will be able to:

1. Identify and analyse the ethics issues and dilemmas associated with an example research proposal.
2. Make suggestions for how the ethics issues might be addressed.
3. Identify ethics guidelines and policies that are relevant to the proposed research.

Duration (hours)

1

For whom is this important?

All stakeholders in research

Part of

iRECS

Steps

1About Malaria

2A Checklist for Research Ethics Committees

3Would you Approve the Study?

4Module Evaluation

5Glossary

6The Research Proposal: MoMotEM

7Perspectives: A Malaria Zone Resident

8Modified Mosquito Poll

9Perspectives: An Ecologist

10What do you think?

11Exploring Potential Risks and Benefits

12Risks and Benefits: Delving Deeper

13The Governance of Gene Editing Research Involving Gene Drives

1

About Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Once inside the human body, the parasites travel to the liver, where they mature and multiply before entering the bloodstream, infecting red blood cells. This leads to symptoms that can range from mild to severe, and without timely treatment, malaria can cause serious complications and even death. Common symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, malaria can cause anaemia, respiratory distress, cerebral malaria (affecting the brain), organ failure, and death if left untreated.

Current interventions, such as insecticide-treated bed nets and antimalarial medications, have some success but they have failed to eradicate the disease. Consequently, new approaches are needed to tackle the persistent transmission of malaria.

2

The Research Proposal: MoMotEM

Let’s find out more about the proposed study. While working through the presentation, make a note of any points or questions that arise for you about the potential benefits and risks associated with this study.

3

Perspectives: A Malaria Zone Resident

Try to put yourself in the shoes of a person living in the target zone where malaria poses a great risk. You know many persons who have suffered with malaria and some who have died, including young children. You can watch this video to help you imagine what it might be like.

4

Modified Mosquito Poll

Keeping this perspective in mind, answer the question below. Do you want the modified mosquitoes to be released?

Feedback

Of course, this is a difficult decision to make without full information about the potential risks and benefits of the study. Having heard about what it is like to live with the constant fear of malaria infection, the primary benefits should be obvious. But are they enough to outweigh the potential risks? On the next page, we start to consider some of those risks.

5

Perspectives: An Ecologist

The ecologist’s perspective

As an ecologist, I have serious concerns about the proposal to use gene drive technology to eradicate malaria-carrying mosquitoes. While the goal of eliminating malaria is undeniably important, the potential risks to ecosystems, biodiversity, and the natural world need to be carefully considered before taking such a drastic step.

One of my main concerns is biodiversity disruption. Mosquitoes are not just pests; they play important roles in ecosystems. For example, male mosquitoes are pollinators for some plants, and many species of birds, fish, and bats rely on mosquitoes as a food source. If we wipe out a mosquito species, we could disrupt food chains in ways we can’t fully predict. Ecosystems are incredibly complex and fragile, so the extinction of one species can lead to a chain reaction, potentially causing other species to disappear. In regions that are already struggling with food security, this kind of disruption could lead to further ecological damage and even food shortages. The consequences could be devastating for both nature and the people who rely on it.

Then there’s the issue of gene flow to non-target species. In the wild, mosquitoes sometimes interbreed with closely related species. There’s a real risk that the gene drive could spread to non-target mosquitoes, including those that don’t carry malaria. If that happens, we could see a dramatic drop in mosquito populations beyond what’s intended, affecting species that depend on them for food or pollination. Imagine what would happen if all mosquito species suddenly disappeared—we’re talking about a potential collapse of ecosystems that rely on them, creating ripple effects throughout the environment.

And let’s not forget about ecosystem irreversibility. Once these gene drives are released into the wild, they’re self-propagating, meaning they spread on their own. If something goes wrong, there’s no way to take it back. We can’t hit an “undo” button on nature. This kind of irreversible interference with ecosystems raises ethical questions about how much we should be tampering with the natural world. We could be altering the balance of mosquito populations forever, and that’s a weighty decision to make.

We need to be absolutely sure of the impacts before moving forward, because once this technology is out there, there’s no way to reverse it. We could be making changes to the natural world that we don’t fully understand, with consequences that could last for generations.

Steps

Other information