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A genetic modification designed to spread through a population at higher-than-normal rates of inheritance, spread through a massive population of insects that a
by 1propionyl 6y ago
A genetic modification designed to spread through a population at higher-than-normal rates of inheritance, spread through a massive population of insects that act as carriers for many rapidly mutating viruses, and that feed on the blood of many different species?
What could go wrong?
- mullingitover 6y agoAnopheles mosquitoes have killed more people than all the wars in human history combined, so to me the 'what could go wrong' is that we don't do anything to permanently wipe them out. I'm not saying we shouldn't be careful, but that we should carefully, deliberately drive them to extinction.
- Someone 6y agoThe goal should not be to eradicate the mosquitos, but to eradicate Plasmodium, and then even just the ones (most) responsible (if you can call an unicellular organism responsible) for malaria. Also, ‘only’ about 40 of 460 Anopheles species commonly transmit malaria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anopheles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anopheles). We should target those, leaving the others around.
- runeks 6y ago> Anopheles mosquitoes have killed more people than all the wars in human history combined […] What makes you sure that CRISPR-gone-wrong couldn’t kill even more people?
- TheSpiceIsLife 6y agoCould possibly vs the lives already lost and the lives yet to be lost. I know where my opinion firmly lands: definitely worth considering the options.