For The First Time, Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes Are Released Into The Wild

[The Straight Story]

For The First Time, Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes Are Released Into The Wild

An Oxford-based research firm has announced the results of a release of genetically modified male mosquitoes in the Cayman Islands, the first experiment with GM mosquitoes to take place in the wild.

From May to October of this year, Oxitec released male mosquitoes three times a week in a 40-acre area. The mosquitoes had been genetically modified to be sterile, so that when they mated with the indigenous female mosquitoes there would be no offspring, and the population would shrink.

Mosquito numbers in the region had dropped 80 percent by August, which the researchers expect would result in fewer dengue cases.

Since it’s only females who bite humans and transmit diseases like the untreatable dengue fever this study examined, British biologists suspected that introducing males sterilized by a genetic mutation into the gene pool could dramatically decrease their numbers over time.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-11/mutant-mosquitoes-nearly-wipe-out-their-population-and-diseases-they-carry

[Ghost Dog]

1. Makes sense, and should be done more often in more places.

But, I'd also expect female and remainig fertile male populations to eventually suss the situation and get round it, over time, unless completely erradicated.

Biological ccontrol methods of this type have often proven successful (against Tetse Fly, for example), although I think there may have been several failures, probably due to bad implementation, too.

[Meldread]

2. I for one welcome our blood sucking overlords.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Knowing our luck they'll mate with the genetically altered African bees

and come up with an aggressive mosquito that has a killer sting.

[formercia]

4. Species that depend on Mosquitos for food will die of starvation.

Oh, the non-humanity!!!

[Better Today]

5. The only problem I see with this is that nature tends to correct issues

like this. At least I think I recall reading about species becoming self-fertilizing for various reasons. IF that doesn't happen, then this is great, if it does, it will be hell to pay.

[nashville_brook]

6. nature is a non-linear system -- this could go horribly wrong in ways we can't imagine.

watch there's some other malicious insect that will fill the vacuum. or, the loss of this one kind of insect eliminates a primary food source for a critter further up the food chain that also happens to keep other insects in check -- say, a kind of bird of bat. so that bird or bat disappears from the island, further throwing the ecosystem into imbalance.

but i'm sure it will all be fine.

[formercia]

7. That's what the Australians thought

When they introduced the Cane Toad for insect control: "No worries, Mate."