Malaysia Releases 6,000 Genetically Modified Mosquitoes into the Wild

• Cucurbita wrote on 2011-01-28 20:40
  Over the protests of environmental groups and NGOs, Malaysia has released 6,000 genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild, hoping to drive down incidents of mosquito-borne dengue fever. It’s the first experiment of its kind in Asia, but naturally everyone isn’t thrilled with the idea of releasing altered DNA into the ecosystem.
  
  Dengue fever is a particularly nasty bug found in tropical and subtropical climes like Malaysia’s, causing nausea, muscle and joint pain, fever, headaches, rashes, and sometimes death if left untreated (in Malaysia it killed 134 people last year). The experimental mosquitoes, all male, were engineered to produce offspring that quickly die in hopes that shortening life spans will thin the population of Aedes species (dengue fever is carried by females).
  
  The experiment was conducted less to see if the GM mosquitoes’ offspring would die off earlier and more to see how the 6,000 mosquitoes themselves would fare in the wild. That also happens to be the sticking point for environmental groups and locals who are incensed that the Malaysian government went ahead with the experiment over their protests. Tweaking genomes, critics say, could lead to unforeseen and uncontrollable consequences.
  
  So how did the genetically modified Aedes males fare? We don’t know yet, as the results are still being analyzed. If it turns out they were able to mingle with their unmodified cousins without generating any adverse consequences it would be huge for advocates of this kind of gene tinkering. Mosquitoes bear all kinds of illness all over the world—most notoriously malaria—and making adjustments to mosquito genomes has long been proposed as a potential solution.
  
  http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/malaysia-releases-6000-genetically-modified-mosquitoes-wild
• Phunkie wrote on 2011-01-28 20:41
  Here's to hoping for good results?
• Cucurbita wrote on 2011-01-28 20:48
  OR UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES
  
  

  [Image: http://mrtopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/giant_mosquito_attack.jpg]
• Lan wrote on 2011-01-28 20:52

  Quote from Cucurbita;308416:

  OR UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES
  
  

  [Image: http://mrtopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/giant_mosquito_attack.jpg]

  
  
  Oh god no...
• TinyMo wrote on 2011-01-28 20:57
  Giant bugs have always been a fear of mine O.O I saw some Stephen King movie and I've been terrified ever since.
• Chockeh wrote on 2011-01-28 20:58
  Mosquitoes are one of the animals I hate the most.
  Please don't turn huge.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2011-01-28 21:01

  Quote from TinyMo;308428:

  Giant bugs have always been a fear of mine O.O I saw some Stephen King movie and I've been terrified ever since.

  
  
  The Mist?
  There were giant spiders and mosquitoes in that one.
  
  But in all seriousness, bugs cannot ever turn giant because their exoskeletons aren't made to be any bigger than the size they currently are now.
• Meikeru wrote on 2011-01-28 21:14
  But that would convince many that hunting would be a good thing.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2011-01-28 21:16

  Quote from Meikeru;308466:

  But that would convince many that hunting would be a good thing.

  
  
  Hunting IS a good thing as long as its moderated.
  In fact, hunting is a necessity in certain parts.
• Mama wrote on 2011-01-28 21:18

  Quote from Cucurbita;308441:

  The Mist?
  There were giant spiders and mosquitoes in that one.
  
  But in all seriousness, bugs cannot ever turn giant because their exoskeletons aren't made to be any bigger than the size they currently are now.

  
  
  i wonder why insects were supposedly a lot larger in prehistoric times. Something about the higher levels of oxygen that allowed it, I think. Never studied it.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2011-01-28 21:22

  Quote from Mama;308469:

  i wonder why insects were supposedly a lot larger in prehistoric times. Something about the higher levels of oxygen that allowed it, I think. Never studied it.

  
  
  Even then they weren't that much larger.
  And only a few types could get that large anyways.
  
  I think their entire body composition was different too.
• Spartaaaaa wrote on 2011-01-28 23:34

  Quote from Cucurbita;308468:

  Hunting IS a good thing as long as its moderated.
  In fact, hunting is a necessity in certain parts.

  
  
  And it's a good source of non-factory-farmed meat!
• Mrlucky77 wrote on 2011-01-29 03:43
  Pic somewhat related.
  
  

  [Image: http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z82/YOELCHAN/giantcarrot.png]
• Mrlucky77 wrote on 2011-01-29 03:45

  Quote from Cucurbita;308416:

  OR UNFORSEEN CONSEQUENCES
  
  

  [Image: http://mrtopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/giant_mosquito_attack.jpg]

  
  
  Pic somewhat related.
  
  

  [Image: http://thegreenhat.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/genetically-modified-food-fda.jpg]
• User495 wrote on 2011-01-29 06:28

  Quote from Chockeh;308431:

  Mosquitoes are one of the animals I hate the most.
  Please don't turn huge.

  
  
  at least, then you can see them and kill them easier
  
  I'd be like DIE 8U -stab stab-