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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."

6 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. Crucial antibiotic... by boundary · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  3. 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
  4. 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....

  5. 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.