University of Adelaide Gene Drive project to stop mouse plagues has $1m State Government funding

Adelaide scientists are experimenting with a new weapon in the battle against pest animals – and even one of the project’s leaders says people may find it “concerning”.

Geneticists in Adelaide are looking at ways to sterilise mice to stop plagues of rodents causing hundreds of millions of dollars damage to crops and the technology has potential for other pest animals.

The University of Adelaide Gene Drive project will trial genetic biocontrol technology for invasive pest animals, working alongside the state Environment Department.

One of the project’s leaders, Professor Rachel Ankeny, said the study could be a game changer for rural communities battling mice plagues.

“The idea is to make the mice sterile or unable to breed effectively,” she said.

“This in turn, particularly because they breed so rapidly, will reduce the populations of mice.

“Eventually it could actually drive them extinct … or at the very least reduce the huge numbers that we’re seeing in that recent plague in NSW.”

Mouse plagues have caused devastation in Australia this year, particularly in NSW. Picture: iStock

Professor Rachel Ankeny is one of the leaders of the project.

Professor Ankeny said a “gene drive” was when a specific gene spread through an animal or plant population at a faster rate than normal.

This can happen in nature but now scientists can do it too by using new technologies for gene editing and switching certain genes on or off.

Gene drives have been used in mosquitoes to reduce disease transmission and there is global interest in their potential to control other pests.

Professor Ankeny said some people might find the technology controversial, making it essential to engage the broader community early in the research process.

“It’s not like GM foods. You can’t just say, ‘Oh, I’m not going to eat that, I’m going to make a consumer choice’.

“The release (of gene edited animals) into the environment is really a different level of intervention in a way.

“For many people it may well be more concerning.”

Innovation and Skills Minister David Pisoni said this year’s mouse plague was expected to strip more than $1bn off the value of NSW’s winter crops and had caused significant damage in SA.

“This project aims to use the latest gene-editing technology to tackle the economic problems associated with mouse plagues and, eventually, other pest mammals,” he said.

Environment Minister David Speirs said the research had the potential to create an “important tool” for managing other pest species, such as rats, foxes and rabbits.

He said the research would be boosted by a $1m state government grant and departments were excited about partnering with the university on the “globally innovative” technology.