Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Donna Lu

Genetic engineering could be used to control mouse populations, research finds

Mouse peeks out from under a piece of furniture
Computer modelling suggested it could take 20 years for 250 genetically engineered mice to eradicate an island population of 200,000 mice. Photograph: Dejan Kolar/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Genetic engineering could eventually be used to control invasive mouse populations, according to Australian researchers who have developed the first gene drive proof of concept in a mammal.

In research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists have demonstrated for the first time that a gene drive can be used to induce female infertility in the common house mouse (Mus musculus), an invasive species in Australia.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.