Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
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Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
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Malaria affects more than 300 million people around the world every year, killing nearly 800,000 people, most of them children. For the past 10 years, researchers have been attempting in the laborator
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Forums » Open clinical » General clinical » Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
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Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
posted at 22/9/2012 6:51 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
Malaria affects more than 300 million people around the world every year, killing nearly 800,000 people, most of them children. For the past 10 years, researchers have been attempting in the laboratory to biologically alter the malaria mosquito, known as Anopheles gambiae, so it can’t breed and spread the parasitic illness, as well as several other diseases. An international team of scientists has developed a way to genetically modify the malaria mosquito so that it would be unable to transmit the disease to humans. Researchers say the method eventually might be used to control large populations of mosquitoes by releasing a small number of modified insects into the wild that could breed the trait into ensuing generations. An article on genetic manipulation of the Anopheles mosquito for malaria control is published this week in the journal Nature.Researchers on Sunday reported initial signs of success from the first release into the environment of mosquitoes engineered to pass a lethal gene to their offspring, killing them before they reach adulthood. But there are two major concerns 1. Is it not possible that the mosquitoes might mutate themselves? 2. Possible unintended effects on public health and the environment, because once genetically modified insects are released, they cannot be recalled. Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/science/concerns-raised-about-genetically-engineered-mosquitoes.html?pagewanted=all http://www.voanews.com/content/scientists-use-genetic-technique-to-control-malaria-mosquito-120395174/171454.html |
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Re: Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
posted at 22/9/2012 12:00 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 322
First: 12/11/2010 Last: 20/5/2013 |
It is interesting how we get upset when we think something cute and cuddly might become extinct but celebrated when smallpox was eradicated. If you kill off the mosquitos what happens to the other animals that feed on them... |
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Re: Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
posted at 22/9/2012 4:33 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1285
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 22/5/2013 |
Tim is right, On two fronts, #1- The animals that eat mosqiotos will be affected, and cause multiple cascades of problems in the food chain, and just like Juraissic park the Movie, like the mathematician said, NATURE WILL FIND A WAY! Nature will remutate the mosquito, perhaps even causing something we did not intend. Perhaps AIDS wa created by this, we know MRSA and XDR TB are human creations, IE-caused by our problems. Tinkering with nature is dangerous. DuaneF |
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Re: Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
posted at 22/9/2012 7:44 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
Thanks respected Tim & Duane for your valuable suggestions on hazards of genetic manipulations. There should be another research focused on irradication of malaria. |
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Re: Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
posted at 22/9/2012 8:13 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 322
First: 12/11/2010 Last: 20/5/2013 |
They have in fact testsed this technology in the wild on Grand Cayman as a method of preventing Dengue fever. It resulted in a claimed 80% drop in mosquito numbers in 2010 - but those figures are disputed. IN 2012 the experiment was declared a failure. It is also believed that the introduced mosquitoes escaped the infertility control ; as in Jurassic park. |
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Re: Genetic Technique to Control Malaria Mosquito
posted at 23/9/2012 1:29 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
Very interesting information Tim! I have seen the program recently on national geographic HD on the various research activities to control malaria. It was also an excellent one. |
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