Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Designed To Halt Malaria Transmission
An international team of scientists
is conducting a controversial experiment in Italy.
The experiment
is designed to test genetically modified mosquitoes that researchers hope could provide a powerful new weapon to fight malaria, which remains one of the world’s greatest scourges.
The mutation
is designed to sterilize populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in the wild, causing them to crash. And that would, hopefully, help stop the spread of the malaria parasite.
But the experiment is controversial because of fears that the genetically modified insects could cause unintended consequences on the environment if they were ever released in the wild.
So the mosquitoes
are being tested first in a specially designed, high-security lab in Terni, Italy.
The lab is designed to mimic the natural environment in sub-Saharan Africa — and to make sure none of the insects escapes.
Goats and Soda : NPR