more fun from CISPER genetic engineering... it's all good right?


Scientists Release Controversial Genetically Modified Mosquitoes In High-Security Lab
February 20, 20195:00 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition

Scientists have launched a major new phase in the testing of a controversial genetically modified organism: a mosquito designed to quickly spread a genetic mutation lethal to its own species, NPR has learned.
For the first time, researchers have begun large-scale releases of the engineered insects, into a high-security laboratory in Terni, Italy.
"This will really be a breakthrough experiment," says Ruth Mueller, an entomologist who runs the lab. "It's a historic moment."
The goal is to see if the mosquitoes could eventually provide a powerful new weapon to help eradicate malaria in Africa, where most cases occur.
"It's very exciting," Mueller says.
NPR was the only news organization allowed into the lab to witness the moment the releases began in early February.
The lab was specially built to evaluate the modified insects in as close to a natural environment as possible without the risk of releasing them into the wild, about which there are deep concerns regarding unforeseen effects on the environment.
"This is an experimental technology which could have devastating impacts," says Dana Perls of Friends of the Earth, an environmental group that's part of an international coalition fighting this new generation of modified organisms. To prevent any unforeseen effects on the environment, scientists have always tried to keep genetically engineered organisms from spreading their mutations.
But in this case, researchers want the modification to spread. So they engineered mosquitoes with a "gene drive."
A gene drive is like a "selfish gene," Mueller says, because it doesn't follow the normal rules of genetics. Normally, traits are passed to only half of all offspring. With the gene drive, nearly all the progeny inherit the modification.
"All the offspring. All the children — the mosquito children — have this modification," Mueller says...

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsan...n-high-securit

living in a SCI-Fi movie

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Hope is the dream of the waking man.
Aristotle

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job 14:6-8

I like that plan much better than sterilizing mosquitoes. besides their little vas deferanse are prolly hard to get to...ok corny

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I don't trust it, here are a few questions about it.

1st of all lets assume it does what it says.
the whole misquote population are now mutant and malaria free and non-biting. But i'd guess the natural predators are still eating them right?
So do these mutant Mosquitoes cause any problems .. genetic or otherwise... for them? can they guarantee that? have they even studied it?

2nd, Ok so the mutant Mosquitoes are in the wild mating with others wild Mosquitoes is there anyway that the mutations they carry might trigger other unexpected mutations in some offspring, maybe something that would make the Mosquitoes more dangerous? can they guarantee that? have they even studied it?

3rd If (when) the mutant Mosquitoes randomly fall dead in people's food and water supplies are they safe to eat, can they guarantee that? have they even studied it?

and if i've understood the reports, these mutant Mosquitoes all have male parts for reproduction. So they don't really KILL off the species, there will still be regular males around and seems to me they'd still dominate the population especially if the females are picky and don't want to mate with genetically engineered freaks.


On a broader view of the concept in general one has to wonder about this type of work being weaponized to create human population killer insects of various kinds and tactics.
Seems it's past time for anti-genetically modified animal weapons convention.

__________________
Hope is the dream of the waking man.
Aristotle

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job 14:6-8

Malaria in Africa was virtually eradicated by spraying DDT with no harm to humans. The so-called environmentalists of the West insisted it be banned with the result that literally million died unnecessarily. But who cares, they were just Africans, mostly children. Save the planet.

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What is a 30 something year old single man with a rock in one hand and a Honduran flag in the other?

An asylum seeker.

My opinion is that people should stop that stupid intervention into the development of mosquitoes. The consequences can be unexpectable and very sad. There is a lot of natural ways to repel those insects. Here is a list of different remedies, both natural and chemical. As for those experiments, I think they should be banned - we don't need the extinction of another insect species.

Mother nature will kick the crap out of those who mess with her. Mosquitoes are pests to humans, but they are important as food to other animals, who are food to other animals, and on and on and on. Anybody remember when Mao tse Tung had the sparrows of China eradicated?