Advisory letter ‘Containment level for laboratory experiments with gene drives’

COGEM commissioned a literature study on the results and experiences of previous experiments with gene drives, to obtain insights relevant for the assessment of the risks of synthetic gene drives. On the basis of the research results, COGEM concludes that the notion that once gene drives have entered the environment they will inevitably eventually eradicate or modify species or populations is, in reality, not as straightforward and requires qualification. The number of field trials that have been carried out on gene drives is limited, but there are no indications that gene drives can propagate unhindered throughout populations in the wild.