Researchers unleash genophage on...mosquitoes

[Pinstar]

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/rethinking-healthcare/6000-gm-mosquitoes-run-amok-in-a-malaysian-forest/2919

Basically they are creating genetically modified male mosquitoes to be sterile. They are released into mosquito populations and compete with regular males to breed. Because they are sterile, the females fail to produce offspring and thus the mosquito population drops.

It isn't quite 1 viable birth in 1000, but it did knock the mosquito population of the Kayman islands down by 80%, and the company making this says it can do even better.

 

[Irridium]

On one hand, I'm not too hot on the idea with fucking with nature.

On the other hand, mosquito's are massive pains in the ass and I wouldn't exactly mourn their passing. Or their reduction.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Let's just hope that in the future, we don't need mosquitoes to fight the Rachni

Hmm, let's hope this doesn't cause any unforeseeable environmental problems.

 

[Nightvalien]

great first the mosquitoes then we get the krogan.

 

[NotSoLoneWanderer]

I wonder what species were gonna get to severely cripple next? Please oh please be spiders.

 

[JochemDude]

That's gonna safe lot's of people would be my first thought, my second is 'let's hope this isn't gonna bite us in the ass down the road'.

 

[manaman]

I wonder what species were gonna get to severely cripple next? Please oh please be spiders.

Don't worry without the 'squitos around its not going to be long for species that prey on them to suffer. Like the common orb weaver spiders.

 

[Yoshisummons]

But if they become extinct we'll lose our wildlife park status and we'll be invaded by aliens!

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

That's gonna safe lot's of people would be my first thought, my second is 'let's hope this isn't gonna bite us in the ass down the road'.

Mosquitos bite us in the ass now.

Obligatory Mass Effect joke.

I am in full support of this idea.

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

as far as I'm aware mosquitoes are simply parasites and don't contribute much to the ecosystem, but I could be wrong. I think most things that eat them also eat other bugs, so any species affected should be able to adapt.

I'm all for this. Kill those buggers

 

[let's rock]

Now in about one week the zombie apacolypse will happen and a mosquito byte is the only cure.

Other than that, let them fuck up the environment, at least then Al gore will have something else to yell about so I can tune him out and not give a shit

 

[Dominic Burchnall]

Since mosquitoes are a huge spreader of disease, I do think curtailing the population is a good idea.

However, I do not think the company should work to improve this 80% statistic. Yes, they are annoying, yes they transmit malaria, but decreasing the population much further could result in knock on environmental consequences which weren't factored into the equation. Personally I'll stick to tablets, repellant and a flyswatter.

 

[metal eslaved]

first mosquitos, then ants ,then spiders, and..............after a lot of time we are going to see the consecuenses,because if times prove something mother nature is a ***** when you mess with the things she does.

 

[Filiecs]

Mosquitoes are eaten by hundreds of different creatures, reducing their population by 80% could be devasting on the environment. Of course it might be completely fine but I think it's a bad idea.

 

[newfoundsky]

But if they become extinct we'll lose our wildlife park status and we'll be invaded by aliens!

Mass Effect reference
Mass Effect reference
Mass Effect reference
Lilo and Stitch?

Sir, a winner is you.

OT: Somebody satiate my fears, Skeeters aren't a large part of the food chain. . . are they?

 

[Dags90]

On one hand, I'm not too hot on the idea with fucking with nature.

On the other hand, mosquito's are massive pains in the ass and I wouldn't exactly mourn their passing. Or their reduction.

We've been doing it for thousands of years. Does anybody miss the dodo? Have insulin producing bacteria taken over? Nope. Well, some people probably miss the dodo because they'd make for some great memes.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

This can only be an ill omen. Every time human beings fuck with nature bad things happen.

 

[One Seven One]

Woo!
Sure this'll cause some problems but I hate mosquitos!
Now if only we could get rid of gnats..

But if they become extinct we'll lose our wildlife park status and we'll be invaded by aliens!

Lilo and Stich reference?