[vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”0″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”8″ el_class=”mouse_row”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_visibility=”yes” mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”258″ media_width_use_pixel=”yes” css_animation=”alpha-anim” media_width_pixel=”90″ el_class=”logo-bild”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_image=”2793″ back_repeat=”no-repeat” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_class=”hero_head” back_size=”contain”][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-lxmt” heading_semantic=”h1″ text_font=”font-555555″ text_size=”h1″ css_animation=”top-t-bottom” animation_speed=”600″ animation_delay=”600″ el_class=”big-red-heading-text font-alberto”]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_row_inner limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ css_animation=”left-t-right” animation_speed=”500″ animation_delay=”2000″ width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-xsdn” text_font=”font-555555″ separator=”over” el_class=”font-alberto bigger i-need-more-space” uncode_shortcode_id=”950978″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]The Stop Gene Drives campaign aims to prevent the release of genetically engineered gene drive organisms into the wild.\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-xsdn” heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h3″ uncode_shortcode_id=”987388″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Gene drives are powerful genetic engineering tools that can rapidly propagate specific traits through a population. Here you can learn more about the technology, its potential applications, risks, and impacts.[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_button border_width=”0″ el_class=”button-pink-solid i-need-more-space” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stop-genedrives.eu%2Fen%2Fgene-drives%2F|target:_blank” uncode_shortcode_id=”253515″]learn more[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ css_animation=”right-t-left” animation_delay=”2000″ width=”1\/2″ el_class=”top-offset”][vc_single_image media=”7213″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stop-genedrives.eu%2Fen%2Fexperts%2F|title:vlog” uncode_shortcode_id=”411830″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-xsdn” heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h3″]In our campaign, we broaden the scope of debate around gene drives by interviewing leading experts, activists and thinkers from around the world.<\/span>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_button border_width=”0″ el_class=”button-pink-solid i-need-more-space” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stop-genedrives.eu%2Fen%2Fexperts%2F|title:Visit%20our%20video%20section|target:_blank” uncode_shortcode_id=”319122″]visit our expert interview section[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading el_class=”max-900″]Gene Drives: The chain reaction that ‘Old genetic engineering techniques’ refer to procedures that introduce one or more genes of either the same or a foreign species into the DNA of an organism using bacterial plasmids or gene guns. The incorporation of inserted DNA in the genome thereby is left to chance.<\/p>\n \u2018New genetic engineering techniques\u201d are based on methods such as CRISPR\/-Cas, zinc finger nuclease or Talens. They too need to be introduced into the cell, before they can become active in its DNA. These methods have been dubbed “gene scissors” because they enable DNA sequences to be cut at a targeted site. The resulting cellular repair mechanisms are then used by biotechnologists to either knock out individual genes, to alter their function or to insert new gene sequences.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”CRISPR \/ CAS 9″ tab_id=”1629230902-1-6516298161128331630505721723″ slug=”crispr_cas”][vc_column_text]CRISPR\/Cas is a so-called new genetic engineering technique discovered in 2012 by molecular biologists Emanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. CRISPR is an acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Bacteria use CRISPR sequences to remember and prevent attacks from viruses as part of their immune system. Doudna and Charpentier then turned this mechanism into a tool for biotechnology. CRISPR consists of two components: a DNA sequence search tool and an associated protein, called Cas (which is an abbreviation for CRISPR-associated). Cas can perform a double-strand break at a specific DNA target sequence. Repair mechanisms in the cell can mend this in three ways. Biotechnologists exploit these three repair mechanisms to either knock out existing gene sequences, insert only a single base pair, or insert an entirely new DNA sequence.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Natural rules of inheritance” tab_id=”1632908352176-4-0″ slug=”rules”][vc_column_text]In 1865, the natural scientist Gregor Mendel discovered patterns of the natural inheritance of traits, which became known as Mendelian inheritance rules. These rules describe, among other things, that the probability of inheriting a genetic trait from two (homozygous) parents to their offspring is about 50%. Gene drives circumvent these Mendelian inheritance rules and establish “super-Mendelian” inheritance. This means that through a gene drive up to 100% of its offspring \u2013 over generations \u2013 inherit a certain genetic trait.<\/p>\n In addition, Gregor Mendel, together with Alfred Russel Wallace, coined the term natural selection. This core mechanism of evolution is also overridden by Gene Drives. In natural selection, primarily those traits that serve the survival of the species or the adaptation to a specific environment will prevail in populations and species. With gene drives, however, genetic traits that serve purely human purposes and offer no survival or adaptation advantage would now also be able to prevail in a population.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Genetic chain reaction” tab_id=”1630155888110-2-21630505721723″ slug=”chain_reaction”][vc_column_text]The term \u2018mutagenic chain reaction\u2019 was coined by gene drive inventors Valentino Gantz and Ethan Bier. When we say a gen drive triggers a chain reaction, we mean that the genetically modified genes of an organism equipped with a gene drive are unstoppably and irrevocably passed on to all its offspring \u2013 across generations \u2013 until all individuals of that population or species carry these genes.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Release of genetically modified organisms” tab_id=”1630414932298-3-91630505721723″ slug=”release”][vc_column_text]In the case of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), a release describes the situation in which these organisms transfer from the contained system of a genetic engineering laboratory, where they were created, into an open, unregulated system like nature. Releases can happen intentionally – as in the context of a field trial for research purposes – or for targeted application purpose. But releases can also happen unintentionally and accidentally, for example when containment measures in research labs are inadequate.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_accordion_tab][\/vc_accordion][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Gene Drive Organisms are supposed to replace or even exterminate<\/strong> their conspecifics in nature. Their future release could have unforeseeable and irreversible consequences for ecosystems and food webs. In the worst case, this could lead to further species extinction and the collapse of entire ecosystems<\/strong>, as well as endangering human health and food security.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_class=”green_bar”][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_separator sep_color=”color-179327″ uncode_shortcode_id=”322081″ sep_color_type=”uncode-palette” el_width=”250″ el_height=”4″][vc_custom_heading el_class=”max-900″]Prevent the release of gene drive organisms![\/vc_custom_heading][vc_row_inner limit_content=””][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]The Stop Gene Drive Campaign connects civil society, economic and scientific organizations and citizens in Germany, Europe and worldwide. Together with 239 partner organizations from the fields of nature conservation, environmental protection, animal welfare, agriculture, international cooperation and trade, as well as nearly 300,000 EU citizens, we are calling for a global moratorium<\/strong> on the use of gene drive technology in nature.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_use_pixel=”yes” position_horizontal=”right” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ column_width_pixel=”600″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_size=”h4″ el_class=”info-text”]<\/p>\n [\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text el_class=”info-text”]The term moratorium refers to a contractually agreed or legally mandated postponement of an action. By a global gene drive moratorium, we mean the postponement of the release of gene drive organisms agreed at the level of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD), whose lifting should be subject to predefined conditions. Click here to read our recommendations for conditions<\/a> that could justify the lifting of such a moratorium.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-nhtu” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ el_class=”black_block”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ back_color=”accent” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”200796″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-nhtu” text_font=”font-555555″ separator=”over” el_class=”font-alberto bigger i-need-more-space” uncode_shortcode_id=”319400″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Gene Drives Brochure<\/span>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”910859″]Our gene drives brochure with more background information on the topic. Available in English, German, French, Romanian, Polish, and Spanish.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image media=”7232″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”747021″][vc_button border_width=”0″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stop-genedrives.eu%2Fen%2Fown-publications%2F|title:Visit%20the%20download%20area|target:_blank” el_class=”button-pink-solid” uncode_shortcode_id=”131225″ icon=”fa fa-download”]download it here[\/vc_button][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ back_color=”color-nhtu” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”130188″ back_color_type=”uncode-palette”][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-xsdn” text_font=”font-555555″ separator=”over” el_class=”font-alberto bigger i-need-more-space” uncode_shortcode_id=”567823″ text_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Campaign Documentary<\/span>[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”110647″]<\/p>\n Experts from around the world\u00a0explain why the use of gene drive technology raises numerous concerns<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”152570″]<\/p>\n
\ngenetically engineers wild species.[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_row_inner limit_content=””][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes” el_class=”anchortext”]Enabled by a new genetic engineering technique<\/strong>s such as CRISPR\/Cas<\/strong>, sexually reproducing animals and plants can be genetically manipulated in a way as to pass on a new trait to all their offspring \u2013 even if this trait proves to be fatal for them. This overrides the natural rules of inheritance and evolution<\/strong>. This mechanism is then repeated independently in each new generation, resulting in a risky and uncontrollable genetic chain reaction<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_use_pixel=”yes” position_horizontal=”right” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″ column_width_pixel=”600″][vc_accordion active_tab=”99″ el_class=”info-accordion”][vc_accordion_tab title=”New Genetic Engineering” tab_id=”1629230902-2-7316298161128331630505721723″ slug=”new_genetech”][vc_column_text]The differences between old and new genetic engineering techniques are based on the tools and mechanisms used in the process, as well as the possibility of targeting the sites of DNA changes and the type of the desired genetic modification.<\/p>\nMoratorium<\/h3>\n