Reply With QuoteWhile great idea, it could backfire very strongly by either annihilation whole species and leaving hole in ecosystem or by other kind of mosquito taking over, that would turn out even more deadly then the one annihilated.
Brazil Rolls Out GM Mosquito Farms
http://www.healthmap.org/news/brazil...to-farms-71812Brazil has opened its first-ever, large-scale genetically modified mosquito farm in an effort to reduce the incidence of dengue fever.
The mosquitoes are a genetically modified (GM) version of the Aedes aegypti, the species responsible for transmitting the dengue virus to humans. The farm was inaugurated early last week and is expected to produce millions of GM insects each month.
Scientists at the British-based Oxitec developed a method of shortening the lifespan of the mosquitoes and reducing mosquito populations by, essentially, sterilizing them. The mosquitoes are engineered to need the antibiotic tetracycline to develop beyond adolescence. Male mosquitoes in the laboratory are given the antibiotic to reach adulthood and then released into the wild to breed with wild females. The larvae, unable to access tetracycline, die before they are fully-grown. After a few days, both the offspring and the released males are dead.
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“If something goes wrong the consequences could be catastrophic, not only for humans but also the whole ecosystem, said Mila de Mier, a Key West resident told the Guardian. “I don’t want my family being used as laboratory rats for this.”
While great idea, it could backfire very strongly by either annihilation whole species and leaving hole in ecosystem or by other kind of mosquito taking over, that would turn out even more deadly then the one annihilated.
*Originally Posted by Nyusu
That's not how it works. The only risk (that i foresee) is that the GMO would be less fit to survive in the wild than wild species and/or the gene will disapear through generations, meaning money would have been thrown by the window
I did describe the worst case scenario if the projects "works as intended". If it works or not is another question.
Kill all those bloody mosquitos, I say. The countless millions and millions of human beings that have died and suffered because of those little bastards transmitting diseases is more than enough justification for unleashing a war of total annihilation upon them.
them the lacks of mosquitos will force the toads to feed on something else and when they start eating human flesh they will turn into giant human eating toads and humanity will be doomed
First disease immune mosquitoes, next, overly aggressive gorillas guarding diamond mines. This will end poorly, mark my words.
John Hammond: I don't think you're giving us our due credit. Our scientists have done things which nobody's ever done before...
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn't stop to think if they should.
-- Jurassic Park --
Or... the mosquitos could be rendered harmless saving countless lives.
Mosquitos are one species that I am 100% OK annihilating and negative nancies like you and Mila de Mier are obstructing any effective means of controlling of mosquito populations with your debbie downer worst-case predictions
If that could actually be accomplished, the results of that would be ecological devastation on a massive scale. Mosquitoes provide food for a huge number of other species which in turn still other species are dependent upon in one way or another.
Why do they want to kill the national bird of Brazil?
It should be a symbol of pride.
The plan is not kill ALL mosquitos, but those that are disease carrying, and personally, I'm OK with it, may whomever is trying to do this be successful in their effort.
Scuds armed with DDT cluster warheads...
A lot of animals, including insects, birds, bats, even fish, survive primarily off of mosquitoes. Those critters have their roles to play in the ecosystem. Simply wiping out an important prey species like mosquitoes would have significant consequences.
I loathe the bastards too, but they are just another piece of the jigsaw.
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