Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Understanding the safety and environmental impact of genetically modified insects is critical for
advancing their use in agriculture. Strains of pest insects have been developed that carry a
conditionally lethal transgene, and these strains hold great promise in controlling pest populations
through Sterile Insect Technique, and environmentally friendly pest control strategy that avoids the
use of chemical insecticides. A major regulatory and public concern regarding the use of
genetically modified insects is whether the transgene will persist in the environment. Males
carrying conditionally lethal transgenes are extremely effective under highly controlled lab
conditions, but their efficacy in a field setting remains to be seen. In the field, the transgene must be
100% effective in a range of genetic backgrounds and environmental conditions, otherwise the
transgene will persist in the environment. Here, we test the hypothesis that the expression and
effectiveness of conditionally lethal transgenes is impacted by environmental conditions and the
genotype it is expressed in. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model, our objectives are to 1) Test
the extent to which genotype influences transgene activity by testing a conditionally lethal
transgene against a worldwide panel of fly genotypes, 2) Identify the environmental conditions that
impact the effectiveness of lethal transgenes, and 3) Assess the ability of natural fly populations to
evolve resistance to the conditionally lethal transgene. This information will benefit scientists and
regulatory agents considering field release of transgenic insects and aligns well with the USDA
BRAG program area “Management Practices to Minimize Environmental Risk of GE
Organisms.”
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 9/1/17 → 8/31/22 |
Funding
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture: $500,000.00
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