What technology is commonly associated with gene drives for gene editing?

The technology most commonly associated with gene drives for gene editing is CRISPR-Cas9. This revolutionary gene-editing tool allows for precise modifications of DNA within organisms' genomes. The CRISPR-Cas9 system uses a guide RNA to locate specific sequences of DNA and the Cas9 protein to create a double-strand break at that precise location.

Gene drives utilize CRISPR-Cas9 to ensure that a particular genetic alteration is passed on to the next generation more frequently than would occur under normal Mendelian inheritance. By incorporating a gene drive into an organism's genome, researchers can effectively spread desirable traits through a population, making it a powerful tool for applications in conservation, agriculture, and controlling vector-borne diseases, among others.

The other technologies mentioned, such as gene cloning, RNA interference, and polymerase chain reaction, serve different purposes in molecular biology and genetics. They do not provide the same capability for creating gene drives or making targeted edits that can propagate through generations as effectively as CRISPR-Cas9 can.