GM Moquitoes to be released in Florida

[pixy0stix]

www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/oxitec-mutant-mosquitoes_n_1676344.html

Mosquitoes aren't just a pesky nuisance causing Floridians to claw at swollen welts on their limbs; they can also transmit deadly disease. Back in 2009, the Florida Keys suffered an outbreak of Dengue Fever, a fatal condition with flu-like symptoms, the first there since 1934.

Now a British biotech company Oxitec thinks they have the solution to avoiding future outbreaks: genetically modified mosquitoes. Their mutant skeeters not only glow red when placed under a microscope, they also carry a gene that causes new offspring to self-destruct.

In theory, Oxitec wants to release their GM male mosquitoes into the Keys so that they will mate with existing females and hatch larvae that won't live long enough to bite people.

Many Key Westers are alarmed that a British biotech company wants to use their backyard for a genetic experiment. Resident Mila de Mier went as far as setting up an online change.org petition in April, which now has over 100,000 signatures of support.

"Nearly all experiments with genetically-modified crops have eventually resulted in unintended consequences…Why would we not expect GM (genetically modified) insects, especially those that bite humans, to have similar unintended negative consequences? Will the more virulent Asian tiger mosquito that also carries dengue fill the void left by reductions in A. aegypti? Will the dengue virus mutate (think antibiotic resistant MRSA) and become even more dangerous?"


In order to avoid a repeat of the 2009 outbreak, which lasted for 15 months and made 93 people sick, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District spends upwards of a million dollars to blanket the chain of islands with pesticides.

As a Broward New Times cover story pointed out, Floridians may take current mosquito control measures for granted. In the days before the state's extensive mosquito control programs, skeeter swarms in some areas were so dense "it was impossible to breathe without inhaling mouthfuls of mosquitoes."

This isn't the first time genetic engineering could be used to combat Dengue Fever. In 2010, Oxitec released 3 million mutant male mosquitoes into the Cayman Islands and report that within a year, the local population was cut by 80 percent.

If the Food and Drug Administration approves their "animal bug patent," Oxitec will likewise release upwards of 10,000 GM mosquitoes at an undisclosed 36-square-acre block near the Key West Cemetery.

Oxitec admits their system isn't foolproof. About one female is accidentally released for every 1,500 male mosquitoes, according to New Times, and it's the females that bite and suck blood.

In April, the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition wrote to Gov. Rick Scott, asking him to stop Oxitec, pointing to the unknown consequences of being bit by one these rogue GM female mosquitos: "… biting female mosquitoes could inject an engineered protein into humans along with other proteins from the mosquitos’ salivary gland. Oxitec has yet to conduct or publish any study showing that this protein is not expressed in the salivary gland and therefore cannot be passed on to humans."

As there haven't been any reported cases of Dengue Fever in the Keys since 2009, residents are calling for more research to be done before introducing a brand new species into the local environment.

"We need more data. If something goes wrong the consequences could be catastrophic not only for humans but also the whole ecosystem, and I don't want my family being used as laboratory rats for this," de Mier told the Guardian.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

WTF at transferring engineered proteins to humans through bites. UNTESTED engineered proteins. It would warm my heart for little skeeter larvae to self-destruct, but this is ridiculous. I'm envisioning grotesque mutant humans... IN FLORIDA!!!!

Edited because science is hard.

[pixy0stix]

Jul 17, 2012 10:10:36 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

WTF at transferring engineered proteins to humans through bites. UNTESTED engineered proteins. It would warm my heart for little skeeter larvae to self-destruct, but this is ridiculous. I'm envisioning grotesque mutant humans... IN FLORIDA!!!!

Edited because science is hard.

It reminds me of a (trashy) book series I read where all the humans were almost killed off because of GM tomatoes.

[pamela]

I don't think this is new. I could have sworn they have been doing it for years with mosquitos that will mate but are actually sterile.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Ooh, the face-eater was probably the result of a beta test!!

[pixy0stix]

Jul 17, 2012 10:14:58 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

Ooh, the face-eater was probably the result of a beta test!!

::adjusts tin foil hat:: I bet you're right.

[EllieArroway]

Jul 17, 2012 10:13:13 GMT -5 pamela said:

I don't think this is new. I could have sworn they have been doing it for years with mosquitos that will mate but are actually sterile.

Yeah, I remember reading something about this years ago. Maybe they just started doing it in the US or something?

[pixy0stix]

SIT technique - www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091116103443.htm

What's different is that offspring are actually being produced, instead of not at all. Which could lead to complications, especially if the offspring adapt and thrive.

[2curlydogs]

Jul 17, 2012 10:18:01 GMT -5 EllieArroway said:

Jul 17, 2012 10:13:13 GMT -5 pamela said:

I don't think this is new. I could have sworn they have been doing it for years with mosquitos that will mate but are actually sterile.

Yeah, I remember reading something about this years ago. Maybe they just started doing it in the US or something?

Yup. I've heard this on NPR several times.

www.npr.org/2011/07/05/137631009/can-genetically-modified-bugs-reduce-dengue-threat

www.npr.org/2011/11/04/142024622/mosquitoes-engineered-to-kill-their-own-kind

[pixy0stix]

Sigh... Instead of being flip, I should have addressed the issue when it first came up.

They're not one and the same. The SIT protocol (releasing sterile males) is a time tested technique. What they're proposing in FL is different. The male genes have been altered to produce non-viable offspring. So instead of mating and then dying without passing on any genetic material, the females are instead laying eggs and hatching GM offspring.

The issue is, do the GM offspring actually die, or is there a chance that the genes will mutate and produce another genetic offshoot of the species.

[pixy0stix]

Jul 17, 2012 10:32:58 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Interesting. I don't remember them covering this issue in the NPR segment. Take me to the "end of days" natural conclusion here. How is this going to result in the zombie Apocalypse?

End days theory: You create a mosquito that is resistant to pesticides and other means of control. Or, you create a super disease carrying bug that breeds rampantly.

^^That's not really supported, as it does look like it's working in the one trial area they have in which 80% of the population has been eradicated.

[ringstrue]

Jul 17, 2012 10:29:52 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sigh... Instead of being flip, I should have addressed the issue when it first came up.

They're not one and the same. The SIT protocol (releasing sterile males) is a time tested technique. What they're proposing in FL is different. The male genes have been altered to produce non-viable offspring. So instead of mating and then dying without passing on any genetic material, the females are instead laying eggs and hatching GM offspring.

The issue is, do the GM offspring actually die, or is there a chance that the genes will mutate and produce another genetic offshoot of the species.

OR, do the males turn into females and start breeding amougst themselves?!?!

Also, TOMACCO!!

[pamela]

I don't understand the benefit of this method over the sterile method?

[pixy0stix]

Jul 17, 2012 10:42:16 GMT -5 pamela said:

I don't understand the benefit of this method over the sterile method?

That's what the main question is, and why this is garnering attention. There's a proven method, and now there's a genetic level tinkering going on. It raises eyebrows, especially with all the questions and not so stellar press that GMOs have been receiving lately. Especially when it comes to tinkering with ecosystems.

[zelda25]

Jul 17, 2012 10:29:52 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sigh... Instead of being flip, I should have addressed the issue when it first came up.

They're not one and the same. The SIT protocol (releasing sterile males) is a time tested technique. What they're proposing in FL is different. The male genes have been altered to produce non-viable offspring. So instead of mating and then dying without passing on any genetic material, the females are instead laying eggs and hatching GM offspring.

The issue is, do the GM offspring actually die, or is there a chance that the genes will mutate and produce another genetic offshoot of the species.

Great. Now I have Jeff Goldblum in my head saying, "Life finds a way" in that weird, stilted way he has.

[secretlyevil]

:-|

two words - love bugs; UF's engineered insect

[ringstrue]

www.snopes.com/critters/lurkers/lovebugs.asp

[Deleted]

What was that movie about roaches in the subway with Mira Sorvino?

Oh Mimic.

Put me on team FUCK NO.

[basilosaurus]

I can't imagine this is a good idea. I'm not worried about OMG they'll inject foreign material!!! But I am worried about introducing a modified species into any environment (and I'm actually pro-GMO foods!).

Look at every time we've introduced an animal to solve another animal problem. Toads in Australia and Hawaii to deal with bugs. And then something to deal with the frogs. Or mongeese to control rats. It doesn't work.

[MrsAxilla]

Jul 17, 2012 13:34:27 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I can't imagine this is a good idea. I'm not worried about OMG they'll inject foreign material!!! But I am worried about introducing a modified species into any environment (and I'm actually pro-GMO foods!).

Look at every time we've introduced an animal to solve another animal problem. Toads in Australia and Hawaii to deal with bugs. And then something to deal with the frogs. Or mongeese to control rats. It doesn't work.

Or vice versa. They had to reintroduce wolves after nearly eradicating them because as it turns out, wolves were controlling the ungulate populations.

[MixedBerryJam]

I can't imagine this would work. Signed, someone living a mile from where Gypsy Moth caterpillars made their great escape.

[IIOY]

Jul 17, 2012 10:10:36 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

I'm envisioning grotesque mutant humans... IN FLORIDA!!!!

These already exist - they are called retirees.

[jenni232323]

Another point for Florida!
Ill let you all know when I get bit by mutant gm mosquitos and start to glow red or something. If theres a mosquito in a 5 mile radius, it will find and bite me.

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2012 10:18:01 GMT -5 EllieArroway said:

Jul 17, 2012 10:13:13 GMT -5 pamela said:

I don't think this is new. I could have sworn they have been doing it for years with mosquitos that will mate but are actually sterile.

Yeah, I remember reading something about this years ago. Maybe they just started doing it in the US or something?

I'm pretty sure they have done it (are doing it) in Cairns Australia. I struggle with the GM componenet, but I've seen the effects of Dangee and we can't wipe out mosquitos

[Deleted]

2010 it looks like for Oz www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827812.400-antidengue-mosquitoes-to-hit-australia-and-vietnam.html

I think the difference with the sterile mosquitoes is that they are a key part of the food chain, wipe them out and who know what issues that will cause.

[josieposy]

Prediction: In six months we'll see mosquitoes the size of birds in Florida, and everyone's beloved pets will go missing.