Gene Editing for Wildlife Conservation?
- Yuna Lee
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The debate over whether scientists should manipulate the genes of wild animals and plants has long been heavily confined as a potential future, but recently, it took center stage at a meeting of top global conservation groups. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest network of environmental groups, has voted to approve the further exploration of genetic engineering tools to aid in the preservation of animal species and other living organisms (NBC News).
In a vote held by the IUCN in Abu Dhabi, which includes over 1,400 members from governments, conservation organizations, and Indigenous groups of about 160 countries, a tentative consensus emerged: yes, scientists should be allowed to tinker with the genes of wild organisms.
The decision, which applies to work on a range of organisms, including animals, plants, yeasts, and bacteria, was considered a “landmark step.” Whilst it is not a “full-throated endorsement” of the practice, it does provide a new framework for evaluating and potentially implementing genetic engineering projects in nature. This framework mandates that “scientists evaluate such projects on a case-by-case basis, be transparent about the risks and benefits of potential actions, and take a precautionary approach” (NBC News).
Although IUCN’s decision still lacks legal implications, it carries significant symbolic weight and has the potential to drive considerable changes in international policy.
Applications and Examples of Gene Editing in Conservation
Researchers are already pursuing numerous projects that involve changing the DNA of species. Some efforts include:
Disease Suppression: Genetically modifying mosquitoes to reduce the transmission of diseases like malaria. Malaria kills over half a million people annually, and scientists have proposed using genetic modification to push disease resistance into the broader mosquito population.
Climate Change Adaptation: Modifying organisms to help them adapt to a warming world, such as introducing genes that will make endangered species more tolerant of hotter temperatures.
De-extinction Efforts: Controversial projects aimed at “restoring” archaic creatures, such as the dire wolf which a biosciences company, Colossal Biosciences, announced it had revived in their lab. Efforts like these hint at the potential of extinct species restoration and the preservation of currently endangered species.
For some, the notion that genetically modified organisms could be tested and cautiously introduced into nature represents a necessary step to addressing climate change and other problems.
On the other hand, others heavily criticized the use of genetic modification no matter the intention. Dana Perls, a senior food and agriculture program manager with the nonprofit Friends of the Earth, cautioned at potential risks that would be impossible to reverse using this technology.
“IUCN just has really failed to caution even against high risk applications such as gene drives and genetic extinction technology that could cause irreversible harm to biodiversity,” she said (NBC News).
So what do you think? Read more about the topic here.
