Genetic engineering of sex chromosomes for batch cultivation of non-transgenic, sex-sorted males

• Published in: PLoS genetics Vol. 16; no. 11; p. e1009180
• Main Authors: Das, Siba R., Maselko, Maciej, Upadhyay, Ambuj, Smanski, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 02.11.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animal genetic engineering; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified - physiology; Antibiotics; Biology and Life Sciences; Chromosomes; Design; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Engineering and Technology; Female; Females; Gene expression; Gene pool; Genetic aspects; Genetic crosses; Genetic engineering; Genetic Engineering - methods; Genetic research; Insect Control - methods; Insect sterilization; Insects; Male; Males; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Models, Animal; Pest Control, Biological - methods; Pests; Phenotypes; Research and Analysis Methods; Sex chromosomes; Sex Chromosomes - genetics; Sex Determination Analysis - methods; Sex Determination Processes - genetics; Sex preselection; Sex ratio; Statistical analysis; Transgenes - genetics; X chromosomes; Australia; United States
• ISSN: 1553-7404; 1553-7390; 1553-7404
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009180

The field performance of Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is improved by sex-sorting and releasing only sterile males. This can be accomplished by resource-intensive separation of males from females by morphology. Alternatively, sex-ratio biasing genetic constructs can be used to selectively remove one sex without the need for manual or automated sorting, but the resulting genetically engineered (GE) control agents would be subject to additional governmental regulation. Here we describe and demonstrate a genetic method for the batch production of non-GE males. This method could be applied to generate the heterogametic sex (XY, or WZ) in any organism with chromosomal sex determination. We observed up to 100% sex-selection with batch cultures of more than 10 3 individuals. Using a stringent transgene detection assay, we demonstrate the potential of mass production of transgene free males.