Comparative prospective assessment study on the release of novel genetically engineered organisms: a holistic framework
Abstract
The work aims at understanding the consequences of releasing a novel technology into the environment and potentially the ripple effects on society. It uses vulnerability assessment as a tool for technology assessment, technology characterization, risk assessment and elements of ProTA to explore the possibility of performing analysis in a prospective manner. It explores potential pathways as a forecasting exercise from which we can learn about the ecological and direct causal societal effects of gene drives. At the same time, it attempts to create a new framework on how to assess gene drives primarily but other types of interventions as well. It combines elements of biology, ecology, environmental sciences and social sciences, risk assessment and technology assessment. Such an extensive framework for gene drives has not yet been developed or at least published and thus it is a novel and present-day research. Gene drives is an umbrella term for a toolbox of different methods that aim to realize a super-mendelian inheritance (see Figure 2) of a desired gene in sexually reproducing and ideally fast generation organisms. They have the power to introduce, delete or modify certain genes in the genome of the target species so that the goal of population suppression (even elimination) or modification is achieved.
gene drive ecosystem vulnerability assessment
Publikationen
Project staff
Carina Roberta Lalyer
Carina Roberta Lalyer MSc.
carina.lalyer@boku.ac.at
Project Leader
01.09.2022 - 31.08.2024