Malaria Proof Mosquito Created

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

If they're going to re-design mosquitoes, why don't they design one that doesn't like to bite people, period?

Or wipe out the mosquito completely?? I vote for that!!! These apparently are not options at this point. So, they work on what is a possibility at this time.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

If they're going to re-design mosquitoes, why don't they design one that doesn't like to bite people, period?

That would be difficult since we are part of their food supply.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by MomOfADramaQn

If you use the argument that it is playing God or tinkering with nature - then humans should never take any type of medication even though it has saves lives. Taking prescribed medications also sometimes has a negative outcome. I had a 2 year old cousin whose parents are on the mission field in Africa die from malaria. So before you are so quick to be critical of this, what if it were you 2 year old child that was about to die-what would your opinion be?

The issue is the potential dangers.

We are now seeing that genetic modification of certain foods can be responsible for unforeseen side effects such as infertility, birth defects etc. When you tinker with the genetic code of something we think we are so smart and can just turn off a switch in the genome but we have no idea what that turns on or turns off down the line or what that changes in the next generation as GM animals breed with GM and/or non GM animals.

Food, bugs that will be sharing their bodily fluids with me etc are a dangerous venture in my opinion. We are what we eat... and what bites us has an opportunity to share it's altered self with us.

The 2 year old child scenario, while touching, won't hold water when we are asking a question several years or decades down the line about a new disease or a large group of fertile humans that came about from a once well thought of experiment with something we didn't have any business messing with.

A pill... I can choose to take that pill... or not to. A plant... if I do my research I can avoid GMO's although the industry makes it difficult.

I have no option when GM mosquito's buzz around and insert their GM bodily fluids inside me and if MY 2 year old grandchild... great grandchild or great great grandchild ends up with a third arm or loses the ability to carry on my blood line because of someone's tinkering with God's creation then others will have made that decision for me and I'm not sensing an appreciative attitude will be the one I possess.

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Twisp

"We were just hoping to see some effect on the mosquitoes' growth rate, lifespan or their susceptibility to the parasite. But it was great to see that our construct blocked the infection process completely."

They were trying to increase the lifespan of a mosquito?

Originally Posted by Twisp

They found no trace of the malaria parasites in mosquitoes that had the amped up version of Akt... Akt mosquitoes die sooner. That suggests age might be a factor.

Oh, ok. Whew. Anything that makes them die sooner is ok in my book!

It would take a very long time to disinfect all the mosquitoes in the world, but I don't think this sort of thing is any more dangerous than giving us immunizations. Its just that in this case, we give the bug the immunization instead of the people.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

The issue is the potential dangers.

We are now seeing that genetic modification of certain foods can be responsible for unforeseen side effects such as infertility, birth defects etc. When you tinker with the genetic code of something we think we are so smart and can just turn off a switch in the genome but we have no idea what that turns on or turns off down the line or what that changes in the next generation as GM animals breed with GM and/or non GM animals.

Food, bugs that will be sharing their bodily fluids with me etc are a dangerous venture in my opinion. We are what we eat... and what bites us has an opportunity to share it's altered self with us.

The 2 year old child scenario, while touching, won't hold water when we are asking a question several years or decades down the line about a new disease or a large group of fertile humans that came about from a once well thought of experiment with something we didn't have any business messing with.

A pill... I can choose to take that pill... or not to. A plant... if I do my research I can avoid GMO's although the industry makes it difficult.

I have no option when GM mosquito's buzz around and insert their GM bodily fluids inside me and if MY 2 year old grandchild... great grandchild or great great grandchild ends up with a third arm or loses the ability to carry on my blood line because of someone's tinkering with God's creation then others will have made that decision for me and I'm not sensing an appreciative attitude will be the one I possess.

These concerns are very well taken, this cursed earth is full of dangers.

[Sister Alvear]

Lots of mosquitos were I am...just spayed with OFF...

[missourimary]

Does long term use of anti-malarial drugs still carry the same harmful side-affects that they did 10-15 years ago?

D4T, I completely understand your concern. However, for the families of the 700,000-1,000,000 that die every year from malaria I'm sure the viewpoint is different. (http://www.cdc.gov/MALARIA/)

BTW, Deet, insecticides, and so forth have proven negative impacts on people and the environment.

(besides, I'd personally really like to see mosquitoes hit the endangered species list...)

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by missourimary

BTW, Deet, insecticides, and so forth have proven negative impacts on people and the environment.

But, again, I have the option of using these products. I don't have the option of only being bitten by a non GM bug.

[missourimary]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

But, again, I have the option of using these products. I don't have the option of only being bitten by a non GM bug.

Sure you do-you can keep using the insecticides and the Deet.
(Sorry couldn't resist. I do understand, but I'm feeling sarcastic today.)

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by missourimary

Sure you do-you can keep using the insecticides and the Deet.
(Sorry couldn't resist. I do understand, but I'm feeling sarcastic today.)

If you don't watch it you're going to force me to send you a genetically modified fruit basket to your house.