We
live in a country where mosquitoes can compromise our health with diseases such
as malaria. Scientists have been working to find a way to contain the
population of the mosquitoes to prevent further casualties from the diseases
that they transmit. When we encounter mosquitoes, what do we do? Slapping it,
chasing it or spraying it with insecticide isn’t just enough. It’s still going
to fly around us and constantly be a nuisance. The mosquitoes will inject its
saliva once it finds an opportunity to bite you. This is the reason we itch
every time a mosquito bites us. It is also a reason we want to end its life for
abusing our skin and blood. However, researchers have found a way to
genetically engineer mosquitoes to kill their own offspring. Well, that took
them long enough.
The
mosquitoes are engineered to kill their own children by passing on a lethal
radiated gene. These children will die before they even reach adulthood. This
method is more environmentally friendly than insecticides; however, the side
effects of these genetically modified mosquitoes are yet to be known. Since
they were modified with a radioactive gene, these mosquitoes will not be as
strong as the wild one. Their chance to find a mate will be significantly lower
than the natural mosquitoes, making it pointless if they just died without
mating. Some researchers have been releasing these modified mosquitoes without
permission or in countries with low to no regulations regarding the matter.
This causes even the supporters of the research to be worried. These mosquitoes
have been released on Grand Cayman Island before and it has effectively reduced
the population of the mosquitoes by 80% for three months. So, what’s your
opinion about our little genetically modified weapon?
Bibliography
Genetically Modified Mosquito (Left) and it's Egg (Right)
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