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Malaysia Releases Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

Posted by Soulskill on from the look-what-you've-done-gates dept.

Blessed_by_the_Cow writes "Apparently, Malaysian scientists have released 6,000 genetically modified male mosquitoes into the the wild. These bloodsuckers have been altered to have shorter lifespans. The basic idea behind it is to help slow down the spread of Dengue fever by killing off the mosquitoes faster."

2 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Frickin' Lasers. by nametaken · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Well sure, this is clever and all... but I still prefer the shock-and-awe approach to mosquito control:

    http://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_zap_malaria.html

    You can just f-fwd to the 12m mark for the craziness.

  2. Need a GM to alter FEMALE mosquito's lifespan by Nyetworker · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What they really need is a genetic modification that leaves the male mosquitos essentially unaltered, but causes the females to have a shortened lifespan, ideally unable to reach sexual maturity. GM males would continue to compete with normal males for surviving females; each successful mating by a GM male would produce a new generation of GM males to continue the process, but all females of that generation would die before ever having a chance to bite a human or breed.