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Fighting Mosquitoes With GM Mosquitoes
doug141 writes "Scientists are releasing genetically modified male mosquitoes that produce flightless female offspring. The male offspring go on to wipe out another generation of females. This is similar to the way screwworms were eradicated in the U.S., except with nature itself making more of the modified males. Field trials are already underway."
What could possibly go wrong?
Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
Although I don't immediately know the specifics for mosquitos, not everything in nature serves a useful purpose.
Like, for instance, humans. Nature would get along much better without us, probably.
If it works in theory, try something else in practice.
Anyone else start to itch while reading this article?
"Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
Also, FTFA:
"The humble mosquito, and the deadly diseases it carries, is estimated to have been responsible for as many as 46 billion deaths over the history of our species."
So yes, apparently they serve a useful purpose.
There, FTFY
> Like, for instance, humans. Nature would get along much better without us, probably.
Not quite, there are mosquitoes that need humans as a food source.
My theory is that nature wanted plastics, and since there was no natural way to produce plastics nature created humans to make plastics. Unfortunately for nature this plan has gone slightly had some unforeseen side effects.
If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
"fruit bats certainly are cute, I don't think they'll be very effective at eating mosquitoes. "
We just need mosquitoes which genetically altered to taste like mangos.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
You can't stay there. It's a bat country.
Upward mobility is a slippery slope - the higher you climb the more you show your ass.
Use them as food?
That's not the question. The question is: do we care?
I, for one, would be willing to sacrifice all polar bears, seals, half of all flower species, half of all of the world's forests and then warm the whole planet five degrees if it means I can finally go on a hike without being bugged by these pests.
Nature can suck it.
Hell, here in Louisiana, the mosquito is the fscking state bird....
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
I suspect this is what God is doing.
Umm ... your parent poster complained about bat guano. Which of ignorance or superstition was it to claim that a large number of bats were responsible for his unwanted surplus of bat guano?
"Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
Which of ignorance or superstition was it to claim that a large number of bats were responsible for his unwanted surplus of bat guano?
We may never know---I suspect he has gone batshit crazy.
Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
Result: Males will find it difficult to find a mate, resulting in fewer mosquitoes all together.
And then those mateless male mosquitos will either go into IT, become imaginary property lawyers, or become politicians.
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The bats would be optional then - I'd eat the mosquitoes if they were mango flavored!
Will they be mango-flavoured?
Result: Males will find it difficult to find a mate, resulting in fewer mosquitoes all together.
Or, worse, you're going to end up with a bunch of horny male mosquitos humping your leg.
Don't anthropomorphize nature. It really hates that.