Creating Zika-Proof Mosquitoes Means Rigging Natural Selection

Of the many great things promised by Crispr gene editing technology, the ability to eliminate disease by modifying organisms might just top the list. But doing that requires perfecting something called a gene drive. Think of gene drives as a means of supercharging evolution to, say, give an entire population of mosquitoes a gene that kills the Zika virus. The trouble is, organisms develop resistance to gene drives, much like they eventually outwit pesticides and antibiotics. Researchers dedicate no small amount of time and thought to creating gene drives that can outsmart evolution because the potential payoffs are so great.