What is gene drive and how could it help in the fight against malaria?

The technology, which enables a gene to spread itself through a population, might prove a significant tool for disease prevention

Mosquitoes carry some of the world’s deadliest diseases, including malaria, yellow fever and dengue. But challenging geography, conflict, budgets and insecticide resistance are among the issues hampering efforts to fight them.

With global malaria cases continuing to rise and the climate crisis hastening the spread of virus-carrying mosquitoes into more countries, scientists are searching for low-cost, equitable ways to stop them transmitting disease.