Gene - drives , a controversial technology that can speed up natural selection in order to help scientists eradicate pests has been given a cautious thumbs - up by the National Academies of Science . Gene - drives involve manipulating specific genes to ensure they are passed on to future generations , giving scientists overall control of disease - carrying organisms . This can be used to increase the populations of some organisms and decrease others such as malaria . Committee member Jason Delborne, a social scientist at NCSU, agrees. Scientists hope malaria is just one of the diseases which could be prevented with gene drives .
Gene - drives , a controversial technology that can speed up natural selection in order to help scientists eradicate pests has been given a cautious thumbs - up by the National Academies of Science . Gene - drives involve manipulating specific genes to ensure they are passed on to future generations , giving scientists overall control of disease - carrying organisms . This can be used to increase the populations of some organisms and decrease others such as malaria . Scientists hope malaria is just one of the diseases which could be prevented with gene drives .