'Anti-malarial mosquitoes' created using controversial genetic technology.
Hundreds of genetically modified mosquitoes that are incapable of spreading the malaria parasite to humans have been created in a laboratory as part of a radical approach to combating the disease.
The move marks a major step towards the development of a powerful and controversial technology called a “gene drive” that aims to tackle the disease by forcing anti-malarial genes into swarms of wild mosquitoes.
The procedure can rapidly transform the genetic makeup of natural insect populations, making it a dramatic new tool in the fight against an infection that still claims over 400,000 lives a year.
The same technology is being considered for other human diseases and infections that devastate crops.
“This is a significant first step,” said Prof Anthony James at the University of California, Irvine.
“The mosquitoes we created are not the final brand, but we know this technology allows us to efficiently create large populations.”
The enviro-weenies of the left are right that humans cannot be trusted to safely use nuclear power.
Are they right about deliberately tampering with Mother Nature?
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