Would you support gene editing in wild animals to prevent disease?

"Dr. Kevin Esvelt, an MIT scientist, was featured in a recent "60 Minutes" segment, on his team's use of CRISPR gene editing to engineer disease-resistent mice. The approach involves injecting antibodies directly into the DNA of mice ridding them of Lyme disease, which affects more than 15% of Nantucket residents. The engineered mice would pass immunity on to their offspring, and the resistance to the island's ticks that feed on them."

"The new technology aims to speed up evolution stopping Lyme disease at its source. However, Esvelt and his team's work out of MIT Media Lab's Mice Against Ticks project is guided by the local community, and some residents are concerned. Scientists have presented their findings to several town halls, though some are concerned the modified mice will have a negative impact on the food chain they support. Federal and state regulators must agree before the genetically engineered mice are released."

Scientists are modifying mice on Nantucket using CRISPR to insert antibodies into mouse DNA, creating Lyme-resistant animals that pass immunity to their offspring and reduce infected ticks. Lyme disease affects more than 15% of Nantucket residents and can cause rashes, facial paralysis, and arthritis; incidence has surged in recent summers. The Mice Against Ticks project plans a small field trial to evaluate ecological impacts if federal and state regulators approve. Local community input guides the effort, with several town halls held and residents requesting additional testing amid concerns about potential effects on food chains and broader ecosystems.

Read at Boston.com