why and for whate 2.4 billion mosquitoes to be released in California over the next two years? Although it seems paradoxical, fighting deadly diseases caused by mosquitoes. How is this possible? because specimens to be released will be genetically modifiedso as not to bite grandchildren. Scientists hope to stop the spread of invasive species caused by global warming..
Intended experiment using genetically modified mosquitoes as public health tools It is authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
British biotech company Oxitec has permission to expand its current trial in Florida and release up to 2.4 billion genetically modified mosquitoes by 2024. Launching a new pilot project in the California Central Valleywhere mosquitoes (and mosquito-borne diseases) numbers increase.
The key is that Oxitec’s modified mosquitoes are maleand therefore they only feed on nectar and do not sting (only blood-feeding females do). Through genetic modification, Mosquitoes develop with the ‘lethal gene’, which means that when they mate with females, males are the only viviparous offspring.so it doesn’t bite.
The gene does not affect the survival of males, but prevents female offspring from developing an essential protein. makes them die before they reach maturityIn the larval stage. Over time, the species goes extinct in the absence of females. At least that’s the plan.
dangerous invasive insect
The project specifically targets dengue mosquitoes (Temples of the Egyptians), also known as the little mummy or yellow fever mosquito, is one of more than 3,500 known mosquito species and dangerous invasive insect that spreads diseases such as dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and yellow fever.
Scientists claim tackling the effects of climate changeone that causes prolonged extreme drought in Californiahelped increase mosquito populations. And although the most dangerous diseases have yet to spread in California, US officials say that the invasive insect “increased risk”.
Oxitec’s early experiments had mixed success and failure. The company has already introduced this genetically modified mosquito strain in Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Panama and Malaysia, and local populations Temples of the Egyptians reduced by at least 90% in some of these places.
But in Brazil, insect genes appeared in local mosquito populations. lethal gene failed to kill some females before mating. According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports in 2019, the hybrid offspring did not carry the lethal gene, but instead carried genes from the original Cuban and Mexican mosquito populations that were used to create the first genetically engineered mosquitoes. It was not clear whether or how these new genes changed the biology of the mosquitoes.
now you just did A year-long trial in the Florida Keys, where 750 million people were released. Dengue mosquitoes represent ‘only’ 4% of mosquitoes in that part of the state, but these causing the vast majority of mosquito-borne diseases to humans in the region.
Resident protests
Fighting this species will force the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District board to push your budget.n million dollars per year to control the pestresorting to costly measures such as spraying pesticides from the air.
Officials believe releasing billions of genetically modified mosquitoes is a cheaper and more effective option. mosquito populations become resistant to pesticides over time.
It was not easy to say ‘yes’ to the project. In fact, it took ten years to arrive, among other reasons, because Residents protestedThey were concerned about the results of the project: they feared that mosquito-feeding bird, insect and mammal populations would be endangered.
there was also strong criticism By officials such as Jaydee Hanson, policy director of the International Center for Technology Assessment and the Center for Food Safety, “Jurassic Park” experiment through the multiple crises the nation has suffered.
Gray Frandsen, CEO of Oxitec, said:exciting breakthroughHe highlighted the “innovative work of hundreds of passionate people over more than a decade” in coming together to “protect communities from dengue, Zika, yellow fever and other vector-borne diseases” and “protect the communities from dengue fever, Zika, yellow fever and other vector-borne diseases.”
The fact that Florida was selected for the first tests in the United States, Although dengue is rare in the country, local outbreaks do occur from time to time.Florida is the state with the most cases, along with Hawaii and Texas. The last outbreaks in Florida occurred in 2009 and 2010.
Reference report: https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-021-00760-x