In the study, “Deliberate extinction by genome modification: An ethical challenge,” researchers examine the controversial idea of using genetic engineering for local and full species extinction as a conservation strategy. They conducted case studies on three species: the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax); the Anopheles gambiae mosquito, a vector for malaria; and invasive rodent species like the house mouse and black rat. “While the suffering caused by these species is undeniable, the ethical implications of deliberately driving a species to extinction are profound. It is proposed for local eradication of house mice, black rats and Norway rats in places where the invasive species threaten native species, such as islands where they pose a threat to endangered birds. The study calls for robust ethical safeguards and inclusive decision-making frameworks to guide the use of these powerful technologies.