Millions of GMO insects could be released in Florida Keys By JENNIFER KAY 32 minutes ago
. . KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — 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.
"This is essentially using a mosquito as a drug to cure disease," said Michael Doyle, executive director of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, which is waiting to hear if the Food and Drug Administration will allow the experiment.
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 people signed a Change.org petition against the experiment.
Even potential boosters say those responsible must do more to show that benefits outweigh the risks of breeding modified insects that could bite people.
"I think the science is fine, they definitely can kill mosquitoes, but the GMO issue still sticks as something of a thorny issue for the general public," said Phil Lounibos, who studies mosquito control at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory.
View gallery FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 file photo, Jason Garcia, a field inspector with the Florida K … Mosquito controllers say they're running out of options. With climate change and globalization spreading tropical diseases farther from the equator, storm winds, cargo ships and humans carry these viruses to places like Key West, the southernmost city in the continental U.S.
There are no vaccines or cures for dengue, known as "break-bone fever," or chikungunya, so painful it causes contortions. U.S. cases remain rare.
Insecticides are sprayed year-round in the Keys' charming and crowded neighborhoods. But Aedes aegypti, whose biting females spread these diseases, have evolved to resist four of the six insecticides used to kill them.
Enter Oxitec, a British biotech firm that patented a method of breeding Aedes aegypti with fragments of genes from the herpes simplex virus and E. coli bacteria as well as coral and cabbage. This synthetic DNA is commonly used in laboratory science and is thought to pose no significant risks to other animals, but it kills mosquito larvae.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I'm all for this project, as it has shown remarkable results at knocking down existing populations of mosquitoes without adding any toxic elements.
I'm sorry, but the rewards greatly (and I mean A LOT) out weigh the risk.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
I'm all for this project, as it has shown remarkable results at knocking down existing populations of mosquitoes without adding any toxic elements.
I'm sorry, but the rewards greatly (and I mean A LOT) out weigh the risk.
sure. I think the same thing. But our lives are as short as a mosquito....I just wonder what happens in the future? do the viruses mutate? because EVERY species has a 'survive at all costs' in their DNA...as we have learned from the mutated FLU virus, making this years FLU vaccine less than 12% effective this year.....
I'm all about the science but I hope this doesn't help the virus world
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
when you start to alter the DNA of ANY specie...you run the obvious risk of altering other species through physical interactions.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Even the people down there that support the project say the scientists involved haven't taken the proper safe guard steps yet.. Until they do, forget it...
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
The previous posts offer two very interesting positions on this topic -- benefits versus potential consequences. I look forward to reading any additional posts made to see how this, so far, polite discussion of an important and interesting subject unfolds.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
My question was the interaction stated by BT, because it is my understanding the GMM is only the male mosquito, which I believe does not bite.
And when the male procreates with a female? The offspring DIE???? It's just toooooo creepy for me!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And when the male procreates with a female? The offspring DIE???? It's just toooooo creepy for me!
If they can do that to mosquitoes than, eventually, they might try that on humans. It is certainly opening up a Pandora's Box.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
when you start to alter the DNA of ANY specie...you run the obvious risk of altering other species through physical interactions.
The only thing that is altered is the ability to reproduce, that's it. There is no interaction because male mosquitos don't bite.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Lab workers manually remove the modified females, so they can release only modified males, which don’t bite for blood like the females do. The modified mosquito males then mate with natural female mosquitoes in the wild, and their offspring die, reducing the population
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Logged
