Australian fly researchers

1990/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Nekazaritza

Australian peasants know perfectly well the influence of the fly “ducilia cuprina”. This fly generates 200 million Australian dollars annually.

To combat this epidemic, researchers have studied the genealogy of this fly and have caused changes in it. Since genetic mutations in males and females are transmissible, the population of this fly is expected to be controlled for some years. Between 1990 and 1991, 700 million flies will be released on some islands in northern Tasmania.

The success of this trial will depend on the duration of the mutation. Finally, it should be noted that, having developed defenses against insecticides, only one genetic path remained that hindered the development of this fly.