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Engineered Mosquitoes Could Wipe Out Dengue Fever

Posted by Soulskill on from the working-out-the-bugs dept.

Christina Valencia points us to a Wired story about scientists who plan to use genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce the population of Dengue-carrying insects. The altered genes cause newly born mosquitoes to die before they are able to breed if they are not supplied with a crucial antibiotic. This is a more aggressive approach than the anti-Malaria work we discussed last year. From Wired: "Mosquitoes pass dengue fever to up to 100 million people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Up to 5 million die. If the scientists can replicate their results in real field conditions, their technology could kill half of the next generation of dengue mosquitoes, which scientists say would significantly reduce the spread of the disease. If all goes well the company envisions releasing the insects in Malaysia on a large scale in three years."

16 of 343 comments (clear)

  1. Didn't we learn by PachmanP · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...from Jurassic Park!
    A specific protein in the movies vs an anti-biotic in real life!

    I guess I welcome our genetically engineered super mosquito overlords!

    --
    You're thinking small. Why miniaturize the laser, when we could instead enlarge the sharks? -John Searle
    1. Re:Didn't we learn by Lemmy+Caution · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can't believe that this hasn't been pasted in yet: (from "Bart the Mother")

      Skinner: Well, I was wrong. The lizards are a godsend.
      Lisa: But isn't that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we're overrun by lizards?
      Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They'll wipe out the lizards.
      Lisa: But aren't the snakes even worse?
      Skinner: Yes, but we're prepared for that. We've lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat.
      Lisa: But then we're stuck with gorillas!
      Skinner: No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.

    2. Re:Didn't we learn by nitro316 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah it was called Joe's Apartment. I still have Dengue Fever from that one.

    3. Re:Didn't we learn by LandruBek · · Score: 2, Funny

      God bless you Lemmy Caution. That's exactly the quote I was waiting for.

      I'm puttin' you in my will!

      (Not actually.)

      --
      $META_SIG_JOKE
  2. Hmm.... by CyberSnyder · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why am I picturing everyone turning into vampire like creatures???

    1. Re:Hmm.... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why am I picturing everyone turning into vampire like creatures???

      Probably because you just saw "I Am Legend".

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  3. Crucial antibiotic... by boundary · · Score: 5, Funny

    Jesus, I hope they don't start raiding pharmacies for their fix!

  4. Re:Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Funny

    release Love Bugs into our environment to breed with the mosquitoes and effectively make them sterile. Well, if anyone has ever been to Florida during the summer, then you know that not only are there an ass load of huge fucking mosquitoes but also a shit load of love bugs.

    I am sure cane toads eat love bugs. I can get you a great deal on cane toads. They are priced per 100000 kilos

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
  5. Mistake in subject.... by Schlopper · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Engineered Mosquitoes Could Wipe Out Human Race"

    There... fixed that for ya. Now queue overlord-welcoming comments....

  6. Re:Jeff Goldblum is Always Right by nitro316 · · Score: 1, Funny

    How did he know the aliens weren't running a Linux Distro or worse Windows? I would have guessed the mother ship was running Windows Server because of how easy it was to attack all the other workstati... I mean smaller attack ships.

  7. Re:SLASHDOT SUX0RZ by professional_troll · · Score: 0, Funny

    This just in... engineered mosquitoes could wipe out Goatse

    News at 11

    --
    Everyones a troll, I just have the balls to admit it!
  8. End of the world? by Scutter · · Score: 2, Funny

    So, release the mosquitoes in 3 years, 2011, which puts us on track for the end of the world in 2012 (according to the Mayan calendar).

    --

    "Tell me doctor, with all of your defenses, are there any provisions for an attack by killer bees?"
  9. So by Y-Crate · · Score: 2, Funny

    Would it be accurate to refer to these insects as "Africanized Mosquitos"?

    whatcouldpossiblygowrong, indeed. ;)

  10. Programmers' days numbered by HalfFlat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Programmers beware! You're next! This is only the tip of the iceburg:

    Oxitec is also working on genetically modified versions of fruit flies, pink bollworms and coding moths.
  11. The biggest mosquito by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    was made of wood, had 2 merlin engines and could do 400mph.

  12. Re:Ripple Effect by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 2, Funny

    So if we kill the mosquitoes, the bats die.... then the mosquitoes that are dead rise from the grave and become zombie mosquitoes? Fuck that.

    --
    Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj