An experimental trial to reduce the mosquito population in Brazil through the deliberate release of 450,000 genetically modified mosquitoes has failed miserably and may have even created a genetic hybrid super species.
British biotech company Oxitec conducted a 27-month long experiment in 2013 Jacobina, Brazil, aimed at reducing the local mosquito population by 90 percent while preserving the genetic integrity of the local insect population.
The overall goal was to curb the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, by releasing half a million OX513A mosquitoes. The insects are a genetically-modified version of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which combined a breed from Mexico with a breed from Cuba.
The mosquitoes were supposed to contain a dominant lethal gene that would render the first generation of future offspring infertile (while also marking them with a fluorescent green protein gene). Well, as it often does, life found a way.
“The claim was that genes from the release strain would not get into the general population because offspring would die,”said ecologist and evolutionary biologist Jeffrey Powell who conducted a recent study into the efficacy and success of the GM mosquito trial. “That obviously was not what happened.”
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
7 comments:
Coming to your area soon. The same experiment took place on our soil in Florida. They are keepimg that failure quiet hoping no one remembers.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/11/20/502717253/florida-keys-approves-trial-of-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-to-fight-zika
Pandora's box
Are these the same scientists blaming cow farts for global warming?
1:15 spot on! as always, unintended consequences! the folly of men!
woe to those who are wise in their own sight - and woe to us for being their guinea pigs!
They have done the same style of experiments to humans - they labeled these experiments as "vaccines."
Northwest Woodsman: While in high school and college, my friend and I operated the UM mosquito control spray truck for Worcester County. We were only 16 when we started but drove a state exempt registered truck and worked from 5am til late in the evening every day except Sunday. I recall that those salt-marsh mosquitos were vicious as well as deer flys and green head flys. Saved a ton of money because we had no time for social interaction, however I started my freshman year 09/60, at what was then Salisbury State Teachers College driving a 58 Corvette with the title in my hand. Those were the good old days!
Post a Comment