Title: "What Could Possibly Go Wrong: Genetically Modified Mosquitoes" by Becky Ferreira, Popular Science posted 1/28/11 http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/what-could-possibly-go-wrong-genetically-modified-mosquitoes
Since conventional methods of mosquito control have begun to fail because of an increased resistance to herbicides, scientists are starting to use genetic modification as a weapon against the pests. Research is being done into this subject by several institutions around the world, including Johns Hopkins University and Oxitec, a British company. The main motivation is to fight the disease malaria, which is carried by the insects and kills millions of people per year.
By altering a gene to make mosquitoes dependent on a substance that they would not be able to find in the wild, scientists hope to shorten their lifespans long enough to drastically affect the population. However, catastrophic side effects would occur if the genes end up being passed into other animals since insects vital to the survival of the ecosystem could die. In addition, the malaria bug has the potential of adapting, rendering the entire GMO strategy useless.
Instead, Joe Conlon, a technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association, suggests using non-GMO methods such as larvicide, which kills baby mosquitoes instead of adults. While not as groundbreaking as genetic modification, his solutions would avoid the problems of GMOs entirely.
Generally, I tend to support the use of GMOs because I believe that we humans should utilize our knack for technology and invention in every way possible. However, I do get nervous about the side effects of modifying animals like mosquitoes since we are effectively messing with millions of years of evolution over a very short time. I have experience with computer programming, so I know what it's like to make a small change to the "genetic" code and end up unleashing a chain reaction of unexpected problems. In the end, I think that GMOs would be worth the risks as long as they are put through enough testing to allow the utmost confidence in their stability. Controlling the mosquito population by any effective means would be beneficial to people around the world, and not to mention those in my own backyard!
Do you think GMOs could cure your annoyance toward mosquitoes?
How ethical are the changes we humans are imposing on the genes of our fellow organisms?
What are some postive and negative scenarios that GMOs could create in the future?
I found this article to be very interesting. I agree with connor particially. Mosquitoes are very annoying and carry a deadly disease. I agree that we should shorten the lifespan and population of mosquitoes. This could prevent so many people from dieing from malaria. GMO's could solve this issue very effectivily. GMO's also carry many risks and effects that could ultimately affect the food web. In this particular situation i would not use GMO's to solve the malaria issue. The technology behind GMO's is great and i believe works but there is too big of a risk. If this gene spread out to other animals we could see a extinction of all species. Theres also a chance that the bugs grow immune to the gene. I agree with Joe Conlon's method. Its much safer and possibly works as good as GMO's.
ReplyDeleteAs i read this article i kept thinking of the extinction of dinosaurs. If the gene that is being invented spreads to other animals, the food web would be dramitically impacted. Animals would lose a source of food and their population could decrease. I also thought of the several times i've been bite by a mosquitoe. Mosquitoes are very annoying and hurtful. GMO's could solve this issue but also could kill many other bugs. I would rather take the bite than see the ecosystem fall apart.
I do not believe that GMO's could cure my annoyance towards mosquitoes. GMO's would not fully kill the species but only decrease its population. There would still be mosquitoes around. I believe mosquitoes will grow immune to the gene over time. All species adapt and mosquitoes would adapt. Therefore making the plan useless. I would rather be annoyed with mosquitoes then face the impacts that the GMO plan could have.
I have some mixed feelings about this one. I do agree that putting the GMO into the mosquito will be benificial to many humans. This will save millions of lives and lives of animals also. On the other hand, if something goes wrong, it could be a catostrophe. As Connor said, it could have a chain effect and effect every animal in the food chain.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the packet we had to do on GMO's for homework. On the packet, we had to right down what supporters and non-supporters of GMO's said about them. This reminds me of that because in the article, there are many good things that the GMO can do for humans, but if it goes wrong, it could be a catastrophe.
Some positive scenarios GMO's could create is that it could save many lives and time right. Thoigh in the long run, they could become useless. After the GMO is exposed for a while, the organism can become resistant to it and just make them useless. Overall, GMO's in the long run are useless but can help over a short period of time.
Like Aadit and Ryan, I have a mixed opinion. I do not neccesarily agree with your opinion on GMOs, Connor, I'm more of an activist for the animals but I do agree that we should advance with technology and move forward as a society. I think if this actually works (I do have doubts) then the human race could be relieved of one of hundreds of bugs that bite and carry diseases. However, Malaria is a huge disease so it would give disease ridden areas some relief. If it doesn't work, though, what could go wrong? We don't know. We don't know if it could wipe out entire populations, or other living things will suffer from it. So because there are other methods to doing this rather than GMOs I think the risks outweigh the benefits.
ReplyDeleteI kept thinking about this because of our hot summers here in Horsham, and where I reside in the summer, Avalon there are many annoying insects. That's just the thing. While mosquitos are irritating pests, they are one of many. My main concerns normally are the no-see-ums, greenhead flys, and other small things that get you before you even realize. I think this would be way more beneficial to people that are prone to disease like Malaria, because here in the US mosquitos are not our main concern.
As Ryan said above, GMOs would probably not cure my annoyance. Like I stated before, I have higher concerns for my ridiculously annoying insects that like to bother me. It would probably decrease the population, and then the bugs would start to build up resistance and the problem would be back again. And if something goes wrong and wipes out the population of mosquitos AND other species, then I will be annoyed with them for wiping out the other species.
I say we go with the larvicide
I am not really too sure about this one. It seems kind of creepy to be messing with what nature puts out. Although it may seem to be helping us, I am not sure on how morally right it is. I would not want to find out that I was a GMO. I don't think that GMO's would cure my annoyances toward mosquitoes. I feel like, although it may work for a while, the mosquitoes would eventually become resistant and we would be left back where we started. I don't feel that we should go on with the GMO's. I would rather just go with the larvicide.
ReplyDelete