Genetically Modified Mosquitoes: What does this mean to the population?

Mosquitoes are one of those insects which have caused a lot of havoc in communities and societies. This insect not only has a painful bite but also through the bite, it transmits some of the most dangerous infectious diseases on the planet. Not all mosquitoes transmit diseases.

Scientifically living things are classified or grouped systematically for easy identification and comparison with other living things just as we humans use names, and other unique features to identify ourselves.  As such if we use our day to day scenario, every living thing belongs to a clan, and in this clan there are families, and each family is known by its own name (surname) and then the families have children or offspring, who have their own unique names. Scientifically living things are also classified in a similar manner, each plant or animal belongs to a “clan” know as a FAMILY, and the “families” in the “clan” are known as GENUS, which like the “surname” of the family  and the “unique names” of the children and offspring is what is known as SPECIES. So when we say that malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum,  all we are trying to say is that the parasite belongs to the GENUS- Plasmodium and the SPECIES falciparum.

The reason why I had to take you back to this systematic class of biology, where we learn how living things are classified, is because today’s article will involve some of these terminologies that I just introduced.

As I mentioned earlier, some mosquitoes transmit diseases which are and have been big Public health problems.  When it comes to diseases in the tropics and subtropical regions, mosquitoes from the genus Aedes and Anopheles transmit some of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world.

Some of the species of Aedes transmit Dengue fever, yellow fever, and human lymphatic filariasis.  Aedes aegypti causes yellow fever and a lot of research has been done to understand this mosquito. With the advancement in technology, scientists have sequenced the DNA (which contains all the information of how and what a living thing is made up of (Genome)) from these mosquitoes in order to find ways and means to understand them better and also how they carry and transmit these diseases.

Anopheles is another genus of mosquitoes which is well known with transmission of diseases. Of the 460 known species of Anopheles, 100 can transmit human malaria. Anopheles are vectors (transmit the parasites, bacteria, viruses,and worms which cause disease) for canine heart worm, Wuchureria bancrofti (which causes filariasis), Brugia malayi and viruses e.g. those that cause O’nyong’nyong fever.

Just as Aedes aegypti, the sequence for Anopheles gambie genome, the worlds most important malaria vector has been published.

As technology is advancing by the day, hour, minute, scientists have and are working hard manipulating the genomes of sequenced vectors in order to stop them from transmitting the diseases. The genetic manipulations also known as genetic modifications involve playing around with parts of the genome in order to either sterilize the vector, stop the vector from further reproduction (suicide genes) and many more.

Some weeks back there was a story where a biotech company has released genetically modified mosquitoes into the environment. These mosquitoes carry a “suicide” gene where if they mate with the female mosquitoes they will not be able to produce offspring and the mosquito population will die out. As simple as it sounds the consequences in the long term are unknown and that is where the danger is.

Most of the genetic modifications are done in controlled environments in laboratories, where these experimental animals are monitored. But when these insects are released in the environment we have no idea, what mutations (changes in the DNA which may result in changes in behavior of a plant or animal) may come up.  How will the companies monitor or follow these mosquitoes once released? Are they tagged so that they could easily trace their movements? Flying insects can easily cross borders into other regions is there any awareness in the communities where the mosquitoes have been released and the neighbouring communities which could be victims of these mosquitoes? What dangers do these genetically modified mosquitoes present to society?

What are the long term effects?

There are many questions we can ask.

Is it worth it to have these genetically modified insects released in our societies when we don’t fully know the consequences they will have in our environments? Yes we have diseases which are killing our populations and we are desperate to get rid of them, but is this the right way? Are we not adding another complicated problem on top of an already existing problem?

I am not against advances in science but let us not use desperate situations as a reason to try out unfinished products. Developing countries have been a dumping ground of many experiments whose long term effects are unknown. Infectious diseases are already causing havoc in developing countries let us not add more problems, but let us find ways to solve these problems.

Have your say, I would like to hear your opinions on this.