Predicting outcomes of gene drives in multi-species models
Having spent a considerable amount of time emptying possum, mustelid and rat traps with the Nina Valley Restoration group in high school, Anna is determined to find new pest control technology that is more ethical and efficient. After completing her Genetics undergraduate degree in 2017, she conducted a Masters that identified haplosufficient, monogenic fertility loci that could be targeted by population suppression gene drives in mice, and potentially other mammalian pest species (published here: https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13901).
In 2021, Anna received a Predator Free 2025 Capability Development grant to explore gene drives in more complex ecological models. As part of this project, Anna received a Fulbright award to conduct a 12-month research visit to the lab of Professor Philipp Messer at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
During her visit, Anna co-developed an individual-based, four-species model using the SLiM 4 simulation framework. This model, containing the primary target species for New Zealand’s ambitious Predator Free 2050 goal (https://predatorfreenz.org/about-us/predator-free-2050/predator-free-2050-vision/), provides the foundation for her thesis, which explores the effects of environmental variability and species interactions on drive dynamics. Further work in 2024 will move these multi-species models into simulations containing heterogeneous landscapes to explore the effect of dispersal barriers on drive timelines and success, and explore the feasibility of co-ordinating various methods of pest control.
Contact:
Email: anna.clark@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Publications:
- Clark, A. C., Edison, R., Esvelt, K., Kamau, S., Dutoit, L., Champer, J., Champer, S. E., Messer, P. W., Alexander, A., & Gemmell, N. J. (2023). A framework for identifying fertility gene targets for mammalian pest control. Molecular Ecology Resources. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13901
- Clark, A. C., Alexander, A., Champer, J., Edison, R., Katuwal, M., & Gemmell, N. J. (2023). Management of vertebrate pests using genetic control techniques. In S. Jarman, C. Holleley, & O. Berry (Eds.), Applied Environmental Genomics. CSIRO PUBLISHING.
- Taitingfong, R. I., Triplett, C., Vásquez, V. N., Rajagopalan, R. M., Raban, R., Roberts, A., Terradas, G., Baumgartner, B., Emerson, C., Gould, F., Okumu, F., Schairer, C. E., Bossin, H. C., Buchman, L., Campbell, K. J., Clark, A., Delborne, J., Esvelt, K., Fisher, J., … Bloss, C. S. (2022). Exploring the value of a global gene drive project registry. Nature Biotechnology, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01591-w
- Forsdick, N.J., Adams, C.I.M., Alexander, A., Clark, A.C., Collier-Anderson, L., Cubrinovska, I., Croll Dowgray, M., Dowle, E.J., Duntsch, L., Galla, S.J., Howell, L., Magid, M., Rayne, A., Verry, A.J.F., Wold, J.R., & Steeves, T.E. (2022) Current applications and future promise of genetic/genomic data for conservation in an Aotearoa New Zealand context. Science for Conservation 337. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 57 p. (https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/sfc337entire.pdf)