What is a gene drive?

• A. A genetic engineering technology that increases the likelihood a particular gene will be passed on to the next generation
• B. A method of gene therapy to cure genetic diseases
• C. A technique to splice genes from different organisms
• D. A form of genetic cloning

Answer: (A)

A gene drive is a genetic engineering technology designed to enhance the probability that a specific gene will be transmitted to subsequent generations. This means that when an organism with a gene drive reproduces, the gene in question is more likely than normal to be passed on to its offspring, often surpassing the typical Mendelian inheritance ratio.

Gene drives exploit natural cellular mechanisms, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to either edit a gene in a parental organism and ensure that the edited version is inherited by most or all of its offspring. This technology can effectively spread desirable traits within a population, which is particularly useful in fields like pest control or conservation efforts where introducing beneficial traits into wild populations could enhance survival or adaptability.

In contrast, other options refer to distinct techniques that do not involve altering gene inheritance patterns in this specific way, such as gene therapy, gene splicing, or cloning. These practices focus on different objectives in biotechnology, such as correcting genetic disorders, combining traits from different species, or replicating organisms, respectively.