Maternal effect dominant embryonic arrest
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Maternal effect dominant embryonic arrest, or Medea, is a technique that uses manipulation of genetic sequences to favour offspring with particular genes. It is a backronym named after the Greek mythological figure of Medea, who killed her children when her husband left her for another woman.
This technique was first proven with female fruit flies when researchers blocked the production of Myd88, a protein vital for embryonic development in flies, but also engineered female fruit flies to include a copy of the Myd88 gene in an area of DNA that is activated in early development. This meant that the offspring receiving the extra copy of Myd88 survived and hatched, whilst those without the extra copy died. In lab trials where 25% of the original members possessed the extra copy of Myd88, the gene spread to the entire population within 10 to 12 generations.
[edit] Sources
Khamsi, R. (March 30, 2007) ''Spiteful' gene manipulation could combat malaria', NewScientist.com
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