In 2016, the then-government announced the “moonshot” goal to make New Zealand Predator Free by 2050.
What role could gene editing play in achieving this goal? Otago University student Amanda Konyn asks geneticist Anna Clark and pest control expert Tame Malcolm.
Photo: Amanda Konyn / Unsplash
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Current pest control methods are not likely to be enough to get us to a predator-free 2050. We need to develop new technologies in order to eradicate pests from Aotearoa. The technologies being considered include types of genetic engineering: gene editing and gene drives. But, given New Zealand’s GE-free stance, is there a path forward for this kind of technology? And if so, who gets to decide whether it’s appropriate to use?
To understand how gene editing might be able to help in the war against pests, science communication student Amanda Konyn speaks to Anna Clark, a PhD candidate and geneticist at the University of Otago, and to biodiversity and pest control expert Tame Malcolm (Te arawa: Ngāti Tarāwhai, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Ngararanui, Ngāti Whakaue).
Thanks to Anna Clark and Tame Malcolm. Produced by University of Otago Department of Science Communication student Amanda Konyn. Music by Blue Dot Sessions (CC).
To learn more:
- Alison Ballance chaired a debate between five experts in 2019: Predator Free NZ – Dream or reality?
- In 2020, Alison spoke to Professor Neil Gemmell about gene editing and gene drives in the episode 'Award for using DNA to better understand plants & animals'