Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes, one among the deadliest insects within the world. It has ability to carry and spread disease to humans causing millions of deaths every year. It acts as a vector for disease such as chikungunya, dengue fever, malaria.

The genetically modified mosquitoes are developed as an attempt to kill deadly mosquitoes. 

Development of Genetically modified mosquitoes :

On 18th of August 2020, officials in the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) gave approval to release 750 million of the modified mosquitoes. 

This was approved even after strong opposition from environmental advocacy groups and locals of the region.

Aim of  developing a genetically modified mosquitoes

The male mosquito, named OX5034, has been developed, which only can produce female offspring that die in the larval stage(before the stage of biting). 

Why only female mosquitoes are made to die? 

Only the feminine mosquito bites for blood, As it must mature its eggs whereas Males feed only on nectar, and are thus not a carrier for disease.

History behind the development of genetically modified mosquitoes :

In 2009,  Florida outbreaks of dengue fever, which was spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

The Florida officials decided to spray chemicals through aerial, truck and backpack and to the use of mosquito eating fish but all were ineffective compared to the speed of spread. 

In 2012, the officials were out of options and reached Oxitec to help out. The company then developed a male mosquito named OX513A, programmed to die before adulthood. The reason behind was simple. As the population of male decreases, the number of fertilization reduces, which decrease the female population also.

OX513A had been field tested in the Cayman Islands, Panama and Brazil with a large success rate with each release. 

After the successful results, it was planed to release in Florida. But more than 100,000 people signed a Change petition against release of mosquitoes into the city and many campaigns were held against it. 

Oxitec then developed a second-generation "Friendly Mosquito" technology and the new male mosquito was named as, OX5034, which will kill only female mosquitoes.

Drawbacks

Some worry that the spread of the genetically modified male genes into the wild population could potentially harm the food chain as many of birds, insects and mammals feeds on the mosquitoes.

But If proved useful, these mosquitoes called OX5034 could be used as an alternative to the act of spraying insecticides.