Researchers at the University of Minnesota are attempting to create a new strategy to test the ecological impact of GM insects so that the technology can be used to combat the spread of disease. The study focuses on a genetically modified strain of Anopheles gambiae, the species of mosquito responsible for spreading malaria. The GM mosquitoes contain a gene that will kill a female offspring when passed on.
Genetically modified insects have shown great promise in combating diseases like malaria without the need for chemical pesticides, but, unlike GM crops that are extensively tested under a common standard, there is no standard test for the ecological impact of GM insects. The lead author of the study, Aaron David, says that he and his team “are hoping that this research will provide enough guidance for appropriate risk assessment of future organisms.”
Read the full, original story here: Genetically engineered mosquitoes can help reduce malaria occurrence
