There is a technology called gene drives.
It asks the question: what species should we make extinct today?
Why are Bill Gates and the US military involved in forwarding that technology?
A
gene-drive scientist might say, “I have a plan. By manipulating genes,
we can make invasive rodents extinct, on an island where humans are
living.”
In the next fraction of a second, a flurry of questions pops up.
The overarching question is: Does this mean genetic manipulation can make ANY species extinct?
Here is a passage from Gene Drive Files, a site with a referenced information on the subject:
“Gene
drives are a gene-editing application that allows genetic engineers to
drive a single artificial trait through an entire population by ensuring
that all of an organism’s offspring carry that trait. For example,
recent experiments are fitting mice with ‘daughterless’ gene drives that
will cascade through mouse populations so that only male pups are born,
ensuring that the population becomes extinct after a few generations.”
“Proponents
have framed gene drives as a breakthrough tool for eradicating pests or
invasive species. However, the Gene Drive Files reveal that these
‘conservation’ efforts are primarily supported by military funds.”
Gene
drive technology could be deployed to wipe out troublesome
plant-parasites, weeds, crops, animal pests, animals, and…what about
humans? Mull that over with your morning coffee.
Several
years ago, UN member nations were considering a recommendation to call a
moratorium on the use of gene drives. However, Bill Gates showed up to
try to squash the moratorium.
The
Gene Drive Files reports: “Documents received under Freedom of
Information requests reveal that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
paid a private agriculture and biotechnology PR firm $1.6 million for
activities on Gene Drives. This included running a covert ‘advocacy
coalition’ which appears to have intended to skew the only UN expert
process addressing gene drives…”
“Following
global calls in December 2016 from Southern countries and over 170
organizations for a UN moratorium on gene drives, emails to gene drive
advocates received under a Freedom of Information request by Prickly
Research reveal that a private public affairs firm ‘Emerging Ag’
received funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to co-ordinate
the ‘fight back against gene drive moratorium proponents’.”
There’s more from the Gene Drive Files. It involves the military:
“A
trove of emails (The Gene Drive Files) from leading U.S. gene drive
researchers reveals that the U.S. Military is taking the lead in driving
forward gene drive development.”
“Emails
obtained through a freedom of Information request by U.S.–based Prickly
Research reveal that the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) has given approximately $100 million for gene drive research,
$35 million more than previously reported, making them likely the
largest single funder of gene drive research on the planet. The emails
also reveal that DARPA either funds or co-ordinates with almost all
major players working on gene drive development as well as the key
holders of patents on CRISPR gene editing technology.”
“These
funds go beyond the US; DARPA is now also directly funding gene drive
researchers in Australia (including monies given to an Australian
government agency, CSIRO) and researchers in the UK. The files also
reveal an extremely high level of interest and activity by other
sections of the U.S. military and Intelligence community.”
For the moment, put aside the notion of intentional extinction of species. Consider unintended consequences.
As
I’ve shown in past articles, the latest and greatest gene-editing tools
(e.g., CRISPR), which are used for gene drives, are far from slam-dunk
precise, despite official assurances.
For
example, this study: Genome Biology, July14, 2017, titled,
“CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing induces exon skipping by
alternative splicing or exon deletion.” An exon is “a segment of a DNA
or RNA molecule containing information coding for a protein or peptide
sequence.” So you can see that exon skipping or deletion is a very bad
outcome.
ANY gene editing done on ANY species opens the door wide to all sorts of errors and unforeseen consequences.
As
for intentional destruction, we have this: MIT Technology Review,
2/8/16: “We have the technology to destroy all Zika mosquitoes.”
“A
controversial genetic technology able to wipe out the mosquito carrying
the Zika virus will be available within months, scientists say.”
“The
technology, called a ‘gene drive,’ was demonstrated only last year in
yeast cells, fruit flies, and a species of mosquito that transmits
malaria. It uses the gene-snipping technology CRISPR to force a genetic
change to spread through a population as it reproduces.”
“Three
U.S. labs that handle mosquitoes, two in California and one in
Virginia, say they are already working toward a gene drive for Aedes
aegypti, the type of mosquito blamed for spreading Zika. If deployed,
the technology could theoretically drive the species to extinction.”
“…a
gene drive [gene editing] can…make mosquito populations disappear. The
simplest way to do that is to spread a genetic payload that leads to
only male offspring. As the ‘male-only’ instructions spread with each
new generation, eventually there would be no females left, says Adelman.
His lab discovered the Aedes aegypti gene that determines sex only last
spring. The next step will be to link it to a gene drive.”
Bill Gates favors this technology. So shouldn’t we? After all, Bill is the number one humanitarian on the planet, right?
Right?
No?
Oops.
~~~
(The link to this article posted on my blog is here -- with sources.)
(Follow me on Gab and Twitter at @jonrappoport)
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