Incorporating ecology into gene drive modeling

Gene drive technology, in which fast-spreading engineered drive alleles
are introduced into wild populations, represents a promising new tool in
the fight against vector-borne diseases, agricultural pests, and invasive
species. Due to the risks involved, gene drives have so far only been
tested in laboratory settings while their population-level behavior is
mainly studied using mathematical and computational models. The spread of
a gene drive is a rapid evolutionary process that occurs over timescales
similar to many ecological processes. This can potentially generate strong
eco-evolutionary feedback that could profoundly affect the dynamics and
outcome of a gene drive release. We therefore argue for the importance of
incorporating ecological features into gene drive models. We describe the
key ecological features that could affect gene drive behavior, such as
population structure, life-history, environmental variation, and mode of
selection. We review previous gene drive modeling efforts and identify
areas where further research is needed. As gene drive technology
approaches the level of field experimentation, it is crucial to evaluate
gene drive dynamics, potential outcomes, and risks realistically by
including ecological processes.