Re:Mosquitoes Genetically Modified to Crash Species That Spr...
by gascan on Monday September 24, 2018 @06:59PM
(#18062218)
Trust us, pyrus calleryana- sorry, I mean anopheles gambiae- definitely won't crossbreed with anything.
Re:Mosquitoes Genetically Modified to Crash Species That Spr...
by Reelin on Monday September 24, 2018 @07:43PM
(#18062452)
Had to look that one up, that's a really good example of the sort of unexpected complexities that can come up (many years later in this case).
For others (like myself) who haven't seen it before: https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/57/11/956/234351
> Consequently, individual cultivars themselves are not invasive, but the combination of cultivars within an area creates a situation in which invasive plants can be produced.
Re:Mosquitoes Genetically Modified to Crash Species That Spr...
by godelski on Tuesday September 25, 2018 @04:11PM
(#18070070)
I fully agree that it is a horrendously difficult problem. But from cross breeding, most of the time the offspring is sterile. Like a mule or liger. But you're right, things often don't go according to plan.
But there is an overwhelming amount of scientists, who are smarter than me and actually study this, that believe it is worth the risk. I'm willing to put my trust into their judgement. Btw, there has been a LOT of testing. But what I mentioned in the OP was more about that at a certain point you have to take a leap of faith.
> So doing this to Anopheles shouldn't affect the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
If all goes according to plan, at least. But good luck containing things if they don't...
It really shouldn't require any help from Hollywood to see the potential failure cases that this sort of technology entails - incredibly thorough testing is merely the absolute minimum requirement.