Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to be Released in the US for the First Time
To those of you who have been eager to hear the latest news concerning the potential release of genetically modified mosquitoes – here it is. It turns out that the genetically modified mosquitoes could be released into the U.S. environment as early as January of 2012. A private firm plans to initiate the release of the GE mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. Florida will be the first beta testing grounds to determine whether or not the mosquitoes lead to detrimental environmental and genetic impact. Residents in this area will also be subjected — without choice — to these genetically manipulated insects, unless the private firm decides to seek permission.
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes | An Unknown Dangerous Experiment
The first mosquito release took place in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean in 2009. On Sunday, October 27, the release was discussed in a scientific paper by the journal of Nature Biotechnology with the report concluding the releases’ success. A second trial occurred in 2010, where 6,000 mosquitoes were released in Malaysia for further experiments.
The mosquitoes are genetically modified with a gene designed to kill them unless given an antibiotic known as tetracycline. Offspring of the GM mosquitoes will receive this same lethal gene which will kill the offspring before it can ever reach adulthood. As more genetically modified mosquitoes mate with wild mosquitoes, the idea is that more and more offspring will be produced with the lethal gene, thereby reducing the mosquito population.
Of course the risks these mosquitoes pose both on the environment as well as the health of all living creatures are highly unknown, leaving everyone with many more questions than answers. We have already seen how terribly genetic modification can threaten the environment and human health, yet people are still moving toward a genetically modified world.
With the release of genetically modified insects could come the downfall of both local and global ecosystems as well as negative consequences concerning the food chain. There is simply no way of knowing what could happen by replacing the naturally born life forms on planet earth with genetically modified creations.
Some questions that still remain unanswered:
- Will Oxitec, the creator of the insects, need to acquire the free and informed consent of residents in Key West for the release of the GM mosquitoes? With the previous release of the mosquitoes in the Cayman Islands there was no public consultation taken on potential risks and informed consent was not given from locals.
- With 0.5 percent of the released insects being female (the gender which bites humans), what happens to humans if bitten by the female mosquitoes?
- What could happen to the ecosystem and local food chain with the major decrease in the Aedes aegypti mosquito population?
- Who will regulate the release, and who will be responsible in the event of complications – to any degree?
If Florida and the US approves Oxitec’s planned release of these genetically modified mosquitoes, we will become that much closer to future genetic modification of living creatures as well as the potential collapse of environmental and human health. Luckily, judging by the widespread opposition of genetically modified foods, it is likely that this experiment won’t turn into a reality without a fight.
Additional Sources:
This is going to be a release of H5n1 flu infected mosquitoes. The resent development of the Super flu capable of killing billions of humans world wide is going to be set loose on the American public via this transmission device. H5n1 will infect dogs and cats and will instantly spread to humans.
That's true..
Last summer I trouble with mosquitoes in a large tank we had for collecting rain water. I dusted the top of the water with diotematous earth once and it worked all summer, no more mosquitoes. It killed the wiglers too
Tampering with nature. What could possibly go wrong?
Dear all, I need to answer the questions raised by you with questions. please see these questions with neutral mind-set and definately not with prejudice.
Did any one concern about what negative impact internet is leaving on todays generation with lots of obscene material which is freely available?
did any one concern about the environmental damage is causing with loss of many species daily because of steady increase of global population today stood at ~7 billion?
Did any body think of cause of radiation damage that is inflicted by mobile phone towers on human health?
did any body think of snowball effect of pesticides that extensively use on our todays agriculture?
and there are so many…
Having said this, I am not proponent for direct use of GM related human services with out undergoing proper testings. however I also mean that there is huge number of population who are living under poverty are threten by one or other vector borne diseases. I mean to say is "many people who negatively comment on GM based human services does not look about the services what they are getting from the todays electronic world with huge cost to their and other related health. This is because they like it and they do want them to from their hand like free access to internet, mobile phone etc. When it comes to food or other health related services, as they are not affected by one or these diseases directly they might oversight the problem and talk about the biodiversity. I personally feel every human being on the earth should think that their being presence on the earth it self is damaging to environs. So first try to not to give birth to any more human being animal and then think of the bio-diversity solutions.
much more to elaborate, but the theme is thinking neutral…there are many other means by which biodiversity is losing that can be stoppable by every bodys little effort. so please try that first.
Well that wasn't entirely relevant, although good points, issues like those are looked at extensively in other articles and studies. And I don't think global celibacy is a viable solution really, I think that would be messing with nature and humanity a lot more than the points mentioned.
You don't know anything of creation do u? God is the creator of all things. Man left his creator for what he thought would b a better way. In doing so he left the covering that God had placed over man. What we have left is man taking care of man that will fail. I believe that anyone that takes a look can see that the world is comming apart.
And yes, the amount of MISOGYNY and obscenity spread over internet is disgusting and this must stop.
I could not agree more. Malaria and dengue are responsible for a lot a lot of deaths worldwide. Mosquitos have grown resistance to pesticides like DDT. This looks like the only way out. Its ehither humans or mosquitos. Decide while you can!
Any patriotic counsel out there willing to lead a class action lawsuit against this?
I believe that we have 1Creator God not man.may his bless those who know n if u font don't learn it.
i must agree there is only one creator. and it is not this idotcy of eveolution of some group of greedy men. they die like the rest of us and leave their devisitation behind and can not clean up their messes nor can anyone else the fiture genorations have to live with this and endure it't effects. mow they are messing with the whole food chain as well as the plants and food animals. so i suppose we will starve to death before we blow ourselves up. unless the creator stepes in and puts an end to them their insanity.
WTF? So the idea is to rid the earth of mosquitoes or just to limit their numbers? While I can't argue with getting rid of the mosquito (pesky little critters) I don't believe in tampering with mother nature. Who knows what kind of effect this could have on the entire ecosystem.
You can NOT and SHALL NOT try to get rid of the mosquito. Mosquito is an important part of the natural food chain. If mosquito are dilapidated, humankind eventually will follow, and natural balance will be destroyed and NO ONE can predict that diseases and biosphere consequences it can bring along.
"Pesky little critters" are HUMANS, who are destroying every part of Earth, not mosquitoes. It is human who is a pest on Earth. Mosquito is an important part of biosystem and is a necessary food for many creatures.
I live in South Florida and would really like to know how to petition this from happening. Who do I contact?? What can I do to take action??
This is absolute lunacy.
So the people of south Florida are experimental lab rats to see if the mosquitoes can infect residents with live cancer viruses.
The company expects minimum legal ramifications because (Yes it's hard to sue when you're dead)
FYI – It's a plan to control and destroy humanity
Actually it's just a plan to control and destroy mosquitoes. Read the artilce before jumping to conclusions please.
i don't think he was being serious, understand sarcasm before you jump to conclusions please.
I suggest you go back to college and try to finish it up.
How wonderful! Now I won't be able to sleep at night all summer long!
This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I seriously think the whole world should get to vote on this before it takes place. I would love it if, eventually, the mosquitoes started raiding pharmaceutical plants for the cure (which also relieves acne, iirc), but all those times I said I wish mosquitoes never existed, it really meant, "I wish mosquitoes didn't have to take my blood in order to survive." There will inevitably be food shortages for the animals that eat mosquitoes, shortages for the animals that eat those animals, et cetera. There will also be less motivation to eliminate unnecessary pools of standing water, which should be done anyway for the sake of remaining feng shui. I could go on and on…
I too, think this is stupid
In all honesty, i feel it is a brilliant solution. How else are we to eradicate malaria? Or are we to just keep on developing highly expensive vaccines and anti-malarial drugs? And THEN wait for the mosquitoes to become resistant to them before we create another batch of drugs. The cycle is endless, and only this could put a stop to it. Draining marshes and creating proper drains can only reduce the number of mosquitoes to some extent, but it can never trully stop malaria from occuring.
And as for food shortages for predators: there are only a few species of mosquitoes that can pass on malaria, the rest are harmless and they will not be affected at all according to Oxitec.
Look what happened when we wee only supposed to abort babies in the first trimester. We now kill/murder our babies at any stage of development and in such inhumane ways only a monster could agree to it. We poke a hook into their heads and suck out their brains and our President calls is CHOICE. Why would GM mosquitos be so surprising.
The Bible is a book written by men not written by God.
God is not in the business of writing anything. He has no need for any written word. He sent His Son to show us His way and He sends His Holy Spirit to be our comfort and our inspiration. God inspired those who wrote in their language with their hands and writing instruments the Holy Scriptures of the Christian's Holy Bible. When read with reverence in search of God's given Truth, It will be found.
"Justified homicide" is the fist thing that comes to mind when you see things like these being done to nature. The good news is that eventually, nature will sort it all out, as our whole lifetime is just a tiny moment on it's scale. Humankind will die off the face of Earth, as the species that had proven to be destructive and unable to control own population.
This is a form of martial law. You won't be able to go out after darl
And good for the mosquito (maybe) — a kind of person…owner of the world…[Rothschild] is involved on weather modification…
Please do some research about this family.
This is a really bad idea..
Interesting fact!
More mosquitos means more <a title="Bat Houses For Sale | Need A Bat House?" href="http://attractbats.com/bat-houses-for-sale/">bat houses will be needed. Although genetically engineered anything is usually not too good!
Omg yes eradicate people and save mosquitoes! I’m being sarcastic…
Are you a human or has a parasite taken over your brain?
Oh? What eats mosquitoes?
mosquito hawks?,some wild animals
Science has discovered women came before men. Are you going to say that is wrong too and declare Eve was constructed by the rib of Adam? People should take care of people.
You can start by saying God’s true name then because in the bible it speaks of how God’s name will be replaced by Ba’al and that is exactly what is going on with people say the word “Lord”. Even Jesus’s true name isn’t spoken. How very disrespectful.
The bible is flawed and the new testament came to us by a murderous pagan king.
It’s all about getting the pats on the back not the truth.
Nature has taught us many things. We have herbs that help, learned from animals. What have we learned from mosquitoes?
we have learned many things from mosquitoes such as the way some organisms get nutrition,the way insects can spread pathogens,etc.
Omg you are a horrible person! How dare you kill poor helpless pests that could make you sick!!! It’s you the human who is the problem!!!
No not really. Good job with using your brain and eliminating a potential risk to your health! CHEERS!
Proof..or get out.
Nice brain.
This is a disaster, besides the fact of gene modification, mosquito is natures number one pollinator, even more so then the bees. 60% of all pollination is done by the mosquito, of which there is about 3000 different species or more not yet discovered. Only the female drink blood and only to get protein to lay eggs. Both the male and the female live by drinking nectar from flowers and thus pollinate nature.
that’s what they thought when they released cane toads in australia…. possums in new zealand… and so on… do some reading…..