Genetically-altered mosquitos (1 Viewer)

[superchuck500]

This isn't actually as crazy as it sounds. We've been releasing altered insects to mitigate insect impact on humans for decades. The US actively fights against a worm that rots livestock flesh in North America by releasing millions of sterilized worms into the wild down in Panama and Costa Rica that keeps the worms from spreading to the north.

The mosquito release in Florida is an alternative to widespread use of pesticide aimed to kill a variety of mosquito that carries disease including Zika. The genetic alteration causes the mosquito's offspring to die in the larva stage. So while the reduction of pesticides and disease are certainly valuable objectives, residents and environmentalists are concerned about unknown or unintended consequences. On the other hand, the science has been around for some time and the EPA has studied the technique.

Is this an example of how humankind's continued advancements in science allow us to manipulate our world for the better (for humans at least)? Or is it mankind playing God and potentially unleashing who-knows-what?

From the tweet article:

Approved by the Environment Protection Agency in May, the pilot project is designed to test if a genetically modified mosquito is a viable alternative to spraying insecticides to control the Aedes aegypti. It’s a species of mosquito that carries several deadly diseases, such as Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.

The mosquito, named OX5034, has been altered to produce female offspring that die in the larval stage, well before hatching and growing large enough to bite and spread disease. Only the female mosquito bites for blood, which she needs to mature her eggs. Males feed only on nectar, and are thus not a carrier for disease.

The mosquito is also approved to be released into Harris County, Texas, beginning in 2021, according to Oxitec, the US-owned, British-based company that developed the genetically modified organism (GMO).

The Environmental Protection Agency granted Oxitec’s request after years of investigating the impact of the genetically altered mosquito on human and environmental health.

Also referenced:

America’s Never-Ending Battle Against Flesh-Eating Worms

Inside the U.S. and Panama’s long-running collaboration to rid an entire continent of a deadly disease

www.theatlantic.com

 

[bonnjer]

As long as they don't release them in 2020 because I wouldn't want to see the holy hell that would result.

 

[Zack Lee]

Baby killers.

 

[Zack Lee]

Why can’t they just genetically alter them to find humans repulsive? I find most humans repulsive so the ability should be there somewhere.

 

[tomwaits]

We just don't know.
Government is not good at looking at unintended consequences and hardly ever reads Bastiat.

http://bastiat.org/en/twisatwins.html

 

[Charlie Brizzown]

I’d be all for it except for the fact they’ll be secretly releasing mosquitoes that inject microchips into people for mind control experiments.

 

[Zack Lee]

I’d be all for it except for the fact they’ll be secretly releasing mosquitoes that inject microchips into people for mind control experiments.

they will be too buggy for the to do any good with them.

 

[superchuck500]

Why can’t they just genetically alter them to find humans repulsive? I find most humans repulsive so the ability should be there somewhere.

I think you need to have sex with millions of mosquitoes.

 

[Zack Lee]

I think you need to have sex with millions of mosquitoes.

my grandfather use to claim to have seen mosquitoes that could fork a turkey flat footed. If I come across one of those I’ll consider it.

 

[James Spader]

Yippie, what could go wrong.

 

[AARPSaint]

I still say that Noah should have just swatted those two buggers.

 

[Bronson]

Normally I would be concerned, but it's Florida

 

[efil4stnias]

Weird Science not an option?

"heeeee aint even got his license Leeeeeza".

 

[Taurus]

What a terrible thing if we accidentally made them go extinct. /sarcasm

 

[CapitalCitySaint]

Normally I would be concerned, but it's Florida

Was coming here to post something similar. Meh...it's Florida.