Sex-conversion gene drives for insect pest management

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CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drives can introduce and spread genes and desirable traits into wild populations. There are a wide range of potential uses for this technology in insect pest control. For example, to spread sterility or to reduce the ability of insects to transmit pathogens. To-date, most research effort has been focused on disease vectors such as mosquitoes. However, gene drives also have the potential to be utilised much more widely to combat global agricultural pests. In this exciting project, the student will use sex conversion as a population control measure against agricultural pests of global importance, by manipulating sex determination to convert cropdamaging females into benign males. The student will gain cutting-edge research skills in molecular genetics, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, genomics and reproductive biology. The project is a collaboration with colleagues at the Pirbright Institute, a world leading research centre for the development of genetic technologies. The project aims to manipulate sex determination pathways in a global agricultural pest, the medfly (Ceratitis capitata) in order to effect population control through gene editing a gene drive system in which males are converted into XX pseudomales. The systems produced will then be evaluated in behavioural and genomic tests. Research skills will be gained in cutting-edge genetic and genomic manipulations. Training will be at UEA and at Pirbright and will deliver key insights into the development and application of novel gene drive systems in the applied sector.