Posted on 01/25/2015 9:42:05 AM PST by Olog-hai
Millions of genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in the Florida Keys if British researchers win approval to use the bugs against two extremely painful viral diseases. Never before have insects with modified DNA come so close to being set loose in a residential U.S. neighborhood. […]
Dengue and chikungunya are growing threats in the U.S., but some people are more frightened at the thought of being bitten by a genetically modified organism. More than 130,000 signed a Change.org petition against the experiment. Even potential boosters say those responsible must do more to show that benefits outweigh the risks. […]
Mosquito controllers say they’re running out of options that can kill Aedes aegypti, a tiger-striped invader whose biting females spread these viruses. Climate change and globalization are spreading tropical diseases farther from the equator, and Key West, the southernmost U.S. city, is particularly vulnerable. …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
What could go wrong?
Isn’t this what big pharma uses Africa for?
We are turning into Africa. Close the damn borders!!
Uh, no. I’d rather they allow us to use DDT instead. That said, I’d probably feel better using GMO insects designed by the Brits than the our government’s own GMO bugs. Sad.
Humans are getting more stupid every day.
Bite Me! Sometimes you gotta take a little risk. So long as I’m not one of the first 10K to get it, or during the first five years. That may be enough time to see any negative side effects. As long as I’m first aware of it (the oncoming bite) that condition is nonnegotiable.
Did we forget how to spray DDT?
Sadly, that question never seems to cross their pointy little minds... even in the face of many lessons on just how delicate the balances of different ecosystems can be. The smallest, and seemingly innocuous of changes can have incredibly long reaching, negative impact.
Dear Lord, grant us wisdom, to use along side our intelligence.
Tatt
Just because you CAN do a thing doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
Won’t it be impossible for anything to stay GMO free if this kind of stupidity starts?
if you want to mess around with the planet, go to Mars and terraform it.
Heh!
I was kinda expecting a pic from 1954’s “Them,” but Grundlefly works just as good.
Animals that replicate by the billions? Nothing.
My first question is: are they sterile?
It worked so well with Africanized bees.
This looks like a great application of GMO.
Mosquitoes are not food, so there is little concern with poisoning the food supply or with a mono-crop of mosquitoes causing a mosquito shortage. (Unless you believe an abundance of mosquitoes is critical to the ecosystem.)
And this technology replaces insecticides. I am far more bothered by a government crony getting $ billions to force-medicate me with their patented insecticides.
The main risk is that something goes wrong and we get a super strain of Killer Mosquitoes.
There are other concerns, like mosquitoes such as this being consumed by bats (who are vital pollinators) and affecting the bats’ health in some way. That would affect the food supply.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.