Sick, stupid and sterile

[hobbyguy]

I came across this other method of mosquito control that is being developed.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/12/06/gm-mosquitoes-florida.html

The Scientific American doesn't particularly care for this company, as they think more research is needed under controlled conditions. The article I read indicated that a research project in Mexico, funded by Bill gates, has genetically modified mosquitos where the females can't fly (they're the biters) and so can't breed. The males can fly, and take off and breed with the wild population, who then also have females that can't fly, but males that can - and the population crashes.

There seems to be a lot of research going on that has huge potential to get rid of the disease carrying mosquitos, or make them into non-carriers.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/search/?q=mosquito+control&x=0&y=0

The trade off is yes, no DDT etc., but I wonder how folks feel about GM mosquitoes buzzing about??

[twobits]

There will be a global outcry over the extinction of mosquito eating bats

[hobbyguy]

Unintended consequences are a concern with these types of programs. Hopefully the program to make mosquitoes resistant to malaria and dengue (and therefore no longer transmitters to humans) is successful, that would spare the insect eaters.

[GenuinelyInterested]

It's (the program) has been used successfully here in the OK for years. Ever hear of SIR? The Sterile Insect Release. Most commonly used for the Coddling Moth.

[twobits]

It's (the program) has been used successfully here in the OK for years. Ever hear of SIR? The Sterile Insect Release. Most commonly used for the Coddling Moth.

Similar end game but not the same thing. The SIR program irradiates the male moths rendering them sterile. They are not playing around with altering their genetic code.