Comment submitted by John Marshall
AnonymousSupportAcademic
Summary: John Marshall, a mathematical biologist, supports the EPA's review of precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) for spotted wing Drosophila. He argues that the technology is promising, cost-efficient, and carries reduced risks due to its self-limiting nature and reduced fitness costs compared to traditional methods.
To whom it may concern,
I am writing in support of a transparent, rigorous, and science-based EPA review of precision-guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) for spotted wing Drosophila (SWD). I am a mathematical biologist whose primary research concerns genetic biocontrol of insect pests and disease vectors. I can confirm that this technology holds great promise for control of an invasive insect agricultural pest as it reduces fitness costs due to irradiation, which compromise the efficacy of traditional SIT approaches to insect population suppression. The fact that only male pgSIT SWD are viable eliminates the need for sex-sorting, enhancing the cost-efficiency of the approach. I would also like to highlight that transgenes released through any pgSIT intervention are self-limiting, only persisting in the environment for as long as the released individuals do. This greatly reduces the magnitude of any risks associated with the technology.
Sincerely,
John Marshall