Assessing potential hybridization between a hypothetical gene drive-modified Drosophila suzukii and non-target Drosophila species

Genetically engineered gene drives (geGD) are potentially powerful tools for suppressing or even eradicating populations of pest insects. Before living geGD insects can be released into the environment, they must pass an environmental risk assessment (ERA) to ensure that their release will not harm valued and protected entities of the environment. A key research question concerns the likelihood that non-target species will acquire the functional GD elements; such acquisition could lead to the loss of those species and to a disruption of the ecosystem services they provide. The main route for gene flow is through hybridization between the GD insect strain and closely related species that co-occur in the area of release. Using the invasive spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, as a case study, we demonstrate how a combination of interspecific hybridization experiments, behavioral observations, and molecular genetic analyses can be used to assess the potential for hybridization., ,