Daisy chaining DNA

Daisy chaining DNA is a form of gene editing, or "gene drive", which, unlike CRISPR, is self-limiting. This means that any alteration made in the laboratory to a gene sequence is limited to a local population only, and cannot be passed on to global populations. It occurs when DNA undergoing PCR amplification forms tangles that resemble a 'daisy chain.' In essence it teaches DNA to count, so that the new strain will only reproduce for a fixed number of generations. It may be useful for instance to alter a particular strain of wheat to suit a local area with no danger of the new strain escaping into wild populations. As a new technique, it must be studied under carefully controlled conditions until it is better understood. Research is typically performed in closed systems on organisms such as yeast, fruit flies, mosquitos, and rapidly evolving nematode worms.