The dark future of GM mosquitoes

2003/02/21 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Medikuntza

In the fight against malaria, one of the options is to create transgenic mosquitoes that do not transmit the disease. Create genetically modified mosquitoes and free them in nature to replace others, or mix them up and resistance to the next generations.

Researchers know which genes need to be transformed and how to get resistance. However, this path will be very difficult to end malaria. According to studies at Imperial College in London, GM mosquitoes have little chance of overcoming the natives. Every time they have been put together, the natives have been easily sold in the fight for food and reproduction. In four generations, the resisters disappeared and, in many places in Africa, in a single summer.

To be successful, researchers believe that millions of mosquitoes should be released in a given place, and that is too expensive. It is above real options at scale and in money. Therefore, hope will have to be put in traditional medicines, such as the Patarroyo vaccine.

Additional information:
Malaria Dossier