Genome Editing Tools and Gene Drives A Brief Overview Pocket Guides to Biomedical Sciences Series

Genome-editing methods are becoming routine tools for molecular and cell biologists. Such tools include ZFNs, CRISPR, megaTALs and TALENs. These tools are revolutionizing the creation of precisely manipulated genomes to modify the characteristics of organisms or cells. Additionally, gene drives have altered the way we understand inheritance laws. They give us the ability to have total control of the inheritance of traits of choice and importance. This succinct volume summarizes the history, principles and applications ? as well as the advantages and disadvantages ? of each of these tools and various kinds of gene drives. The book is part of a program to produce books helpful to students and faculties of science at colleges and universities. This volume in the Pocket Guides to Biomedical Sciences series will help demystify these technologies. The book fills the gap between established conventional methods and the novel and exciting newly introduced tools of genome editing and gene drives. It will help young scientists understand the emerging genome-editing tools and gene drives, thereby promoting related research and adoption.

Key Features

• Extensively reviews the current genome-editing tools and gene drives
• Clarifies the targeting mechanisms and specificity of genome-editing tools
• Details many different types of natural and synthetic gene drives
• Highlights concerns with gene drives and genome-editing tools

Related Titles

Brown, T. A. Genomes 4 (ISBN 978-0-8153-4508-4)

Samuelsson, T. The Human Genome in Health and Disease: A Story in Four Letters (ISBN 978-0-8153-4591-6)

Soh, J., et al. Genome Annotation (ISBN 978-1-4398-4117-4)

Chapter 01 Genome editing

Chapter 02 Zinc Finger Nucleases

Chapter 03 Talens

Chapter 04 megaTALs/ meganucleases

Chapter 05 CRISPR

Chapter 06 Comparison of ZFNs, TALENs, CRISPR, and megaTALs

Chapter 07 Gene Drives

Chapter 08 Supernumerary B chromosomes

Chapter 09 Suppression drive

Chapter 10 Maternal Effect Dominant Embryonic Arrest (Medea) system

Chapter 11 Heritable microorganisms: Wolbachia

Chapter 12 CRISPR gene drives

Chapter 13 The Killer–Rescue system

Reagan Mudziwapasi

Reagan Mudziwapasi is a biotechnology researcher, lecturer and entrepreneur. He is a co-founder and Operations Director at EnviroBiotech Solutions Africa, a company that develops biotechnology-based solutions. Reagan has authored several peer-reviewed journals, is a patent holder and has made several inventions and conducted several consultancies. He has contributed to various discussions on biotechnology, entrepreneurship and energy inter alia. Reagan promotes awareness on genetic engineering and its safe and responsible use. He helps marginalized communities and upcoming inventors protect their intellectual property.

Farai Faustos Mashiri

Farai Faustos Mashiri has been an Agricultural Science and Biology educator since 2009 at various institutions in Zimbabwe and recently South Africa. He got his BSc in Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1999 from Africa University and Post Graduate Diploma in Education from Lupane State University. After graduating, his early career engagements included technical work for private enterprises in the Agricultural sector, mainly in aquaculture and horticulture. He is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in Animal Breeding and Biotechnology. His research interests are in Tilapia breeding, genome editing and gene drives. His areas of interest also span the fields of Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Data Analysis using R and Python.

Irvonnie Shoko

Irvonnie Shoko is a founder of Divin Chen Agribusiness Solutions where she offers consultancy and training services in livestock production. She joined Midlands State University in 2019 as a part-time lecturer in Animal Breeding and Physiology. Prior to that, she was a research scientist at SIRDC. During her tenure at SIRDC, she helped the company to set up a robust livestock breeding and production project. She is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe where she obtained a BSc in Animal Science and an MSc i