Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Can Stop Disease Transmission, Should We Embrace Them?

The number of deaths resulting from mosquito bites is almost uncountable. The creatures are deadly. In 2015, the deaths rose to more than 800,000! Nevertheless, the emerging use of genetically modified mosquitoes could be the solution to preventing the transmission of diseases.

Before you are surprised, it worth noting that such experiments have been around for more than seven decades. Mosquitoes carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which are spread through bites. This explains the average deaths of a million deaths every year.

It may sound like something you see in movies but genetically modified mosquitoes are real and have recently sprung to fame. These mosquitoes, developed in laboratories, are used to fight mosquito-borne pathogens across the globe. This includes Zika and dengue virus.

Although there has been no field release for the disease control yet, these modified creatures could just be what the world needs. They have been tested and proven to work.

The best part of these insects is that the changes only affect the mosquitoes and not the people it bites. But how do you use these insects?

The first method is population replacement. This involves the replacement of the mosquitoes that spread diseases with the ones that are modified. This is done through what is referred to as the gene drive. The process facilitates the spread of the anti-pathogen gene in a population, which is also inherited by the offspring.

The second way these lab mosquitoes are used is through population suppression. This facilitates the reduction of the mosquito populations so that there are fewer mosquitoes to pass on the pathogen.

Nevertheless, gene drive may have its constraints. The technique hasn’t fully been deployed in nature considering their novelty not to mention the uncertain international regulatory framework. Well, some experts are also concerned about the evolution of resistance in the mosquito populations that may render the gene ineffective.

On the other hand, population suppression might be more effective as sterile mosquitoes are released into the population. When they mate with the female mosquitoes, they will eventually reduce the population. The modification is inherited by the offspring of the two mating mosquitoes. eventually, offspring die, while the male offspring carrying the sterile gene, live and continue passing the trait to the next generation. This method has been effectively applied in Malaysia, Grand Caymans, Florida, and Brazil.

Despite its effectiveness, population suppression has also been met with criticism, but unlike gene drive, the method has somewhat a negligible environmental effect. As a matter of fact, it is safer than the traditional method of fumigation or the broad-spectrum of insecticide sprays.

The evolution of insects’ resistance to insecticides calls for new measures of controlling diseases. Although there are some quibbles surrounding the genetically modified mosquitoes, the reality is that they will reduce the reduce the burden of the spread of mosquito-borne diseases worldwide.  In a nutshell, genetically modified mosquitoes could save lives!