Will Smale and Richard Baimbridge are business reporters.
The next generation of genetic modification (GM) technology, called gene drives, is the subject of Liz O'Neill.
The director of UK anti- GM pressure group, GM Freeze, says it is worrying.
You can't put the genie back in the bottle once it's out.
The way genes drive work sounds like a science fiction novel, but it is already being used in laboratory tests. There is a simple explanation for it.
While standard GM introduces a new, lab-tweaked gene into a organism, gene drive technology goes one stage further. A lab-created gene that can replicate itself and target a specific natural gene is introduced.
If an animal that has a gene drive mates with one that doesn't, then in the forming embryo that starts to combine their genetic material, parent A's gene drive immediately gets to work.
The natural version of itself in the opposite chromosomes is destroyed by cutting it out of the DNA chain. Parent A's genes are copied by Parent B's.
The embryo and offspring are all but guaranteed to have the genes drive, rather than a 50% chance with standard GM, because an embryo takes half its genes from each parent.
Gene drives are created by adding Crispr to a gene. The natural version of itself in the other parent's genes is what this tells it to target. The cutting is done by an enzyme in the gene drive.
What is the point of this technology? It is hoped that gene drives can be used to reduce the number of pests.
The process is more effective than standard DNA because every single offspring has a trait that spreads much faster and further.
Target Malaria is at the forefront of this because it has developed gene drives that stop mosquitos from producing female offspring. This is important for two reasons, the first being that mosquito numbers will plummet if females are not bitten.
The economic impact of the disease could be slashed. Malaria is expected to cause 241 million cases in 2020 in Africa, costing the continent $12 billion in reduced economic output every year.
The financial effect of non-native species is higher than before. They cost the US and Canada $26 billion a year, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Over the past 50 years, it puts the impact at $1.29tn.
The risks of unforeseen consequences, such as the gene drive, are too high.
She says that Gene drives are GM on steroids and that every concern one would have about the use of any genetic modification is more worrying.
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There are no bans against continuing laboratory research into technology that has not yet been approved for use in the wild. The United Nations Convention on Biodiversity made a decision after serious debate.
Dr Jonathan Kayondo is an investigator for Target Malaria. He points out that natural gene drives already exist. He stresses that safety remains the main concern in the development of engineered genes.
Malaria is one of the oldest diseases on the planet, and despite decades of efforts, a child still dies of it every minute.
Innovative approaches are needed as both the mosquito and the parasites are becoming resistant to current methods. Gene drive approaches could be part of an integrated approach to combat malaria.
Dr Kayondo says that Target Malaria is testing genes on mosquitos at Imperial College in London.
The project is proceeding step-by-step, and at each phase the safety of the technology is being evaluated.
The project will not proceed further if there is evidence of a concern about human, animal health or environmental safety, and the project is seeking external scientific advice and independent risk assessment for each stage and phase of the research.
Kevin Esvelt, an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is one of the pioneers of gene drives. He came up with the technology in the past.
Prof Esvelt says that safety is the main concern, and that it is being built into the latest gene drive technology.
He says that the development of this technology must include robust safeguards and methods of control.
Prof Esvelt says that this technology is being provided by aisy chain. A gene drive is designed to become inactive after a few generations. halving its spread until it stops.
He says it is possible to control the spread of gene drives using this technology.
He says that a town could release GM organisms with its boundaries to alter the local population of a particular organisms.
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