Re:First genetically modified mosquitoes released in the Uni...
by virtue3 on Tuesday May 04, 2021 @08:49AM
(#27036994)
I'm just pointing out we don't have a great track record of introducing a species to positively affect ecosystems.
> Now, a team of independent researchers analyzing an early trial of Oxitec’s technology is raising alarm—and drawing fire from the firm—with a report that some offspring of the GM mosquitoes survived and produced offspring that also made it to sexual maturity.
> Typically, a female only needs to mate once, and after this is done, she can lay eggs for the remainder of her life. Most female mosquitoes can produce between 50 and 500 eggs in their first brood. Subsequent broods may have fewer eggs, but a single female mosquito may produce up to 10 broods throughout her life.
I'm not convinced this is the best solution. Bring back the anti-mosquito lasers :/
> Now, a team of independent researchers analyzing an early trial of Oxitec’s technology is raising alarm—and drawing fire from the firm—with a report that some offspring of the GM mosquitoes survived and produced offspring that also made it to sexual maturity.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/09/study-dna-spread-gen...
Mosquitos lay a lot of eggs.
> Typically, a female only needs to mate once, and after this is done, she can lay eggs for the remainder of her life. Most female mosquitoes can produce between 50 and 500 eggs in their first brood. Subsequent broods may have fewer eggs, but a single female mosquito may produce up to 10 broods throughout her life.
I'm not convinced this is the best solution. Bring back the anti-mosquito lasers :/