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I wonder if we could instead produce mosquitoes that hate human smell and never attack humans. The risk that something else and worse starts moving into the ec

I wonder if we could instead produce mosquitoes that hate human smell and never attack humans. The risk that something else and worse starts moving into the ecological niche left empty by nonviable mosquitoes would be reduced.

bratwurst3000 5y ago
I was also thinking about that. And what if mosquitoes have important role in nature? But Honestly I hate those bastards so much, A world without them would be a delight.
- ParksNet 5y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes_aegypti https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes_aegypti The targeted species of mosquito is not native to the USA. It was introduced by Europeans inadvertently.
  - ceejayoz 5y ago
    To be fair, that does hint at the potential for the modified version to get introduced back to Europe inadvertently.
    - abathur 5y ago
      Yes, but it wouldn't have a selective advantage. You'd have to do the same process--dumping tons of them in an area--to have the same effect.
    - ch4s3 5y ago
      Aedes Aegypti aren't native to Europe either.
- Tagbert 5y ago
  There are over 800 species of Mosquitos and only a couple of species can transmit diseases to humans. The Aegyptes species targeted in this test is invasive in the Americas and not a native mosquito. If we could eliminate this species it would prevent most cases of a deadly disease and would have little to no environmental effect. Other creatures that depend on mosquitos would continue to consume the other 799 species.
- soperj 5y ago
  They do, mosquitos are pollinators, only the female mosquitoes suck blood just before producing eggs. Males feed exclusively on nectar.
Turing_Machine 5y ago
Aedes aegypti is an invasive species in Florida and everywhere else in the world outside of Africa. If anything, wiping them out should reduce the pressure on the many native species of mosquito (which, in general, don't carry human diseases).
perlgeek 5y ago
the problem with an approach like this is that it doesn't offer any evolutionary advantage, and so the gene will be lost after a few generations.
- rich_sasha 5y ago
  What evolutionary advantage comes from induced infertility?
  - dymk 5y ago
    None, they just die. There is no chance of adaptation. Gene line ends.

bratwurst3000 5y ago

I was also thinking about that. And what if mosquitoes have important role in nature? But Honestly I hate those bastards so much, A world without them would be a delight.

ParksNet 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes_aegypti https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes_aegypti The targeted species of mosquito is not native to the USA. It was introduced by Europeans inadvertently.
- ceejayoz 5y ago
  To be fair, that does hint at the potential for the modified version to get introduced back to Europe inadvertently.
  - abathur 5y ago
    Yes, but it wouldn't have a selective advantage. You'd have to do the same process--dumping tons of them in an area--to have the same effect.
  - ch4s3 5y ago
    Aedes Aegypti aren't native to Europe either.
Tagbert 5y ago
There are over 800 species of Mosquitos and only a couple of species can transmit diseases to humans. The Aegyptes species targeted in this test is invasive in the Americas and not a native mosquito. If we could eliminate this species it would prevent most cases of a deadly disease and would have little to no environmental effect. Other creatures that depend on mosquitos would continue to consume the other 799 species.
soperj 5y ago
They do, mosquitos are pollinators, only the female mosquitoes suck blood just before producing eggs. Males feed exclusively on nectar.

Turing_Machine 5y ago

Aedes aegypti is an invasive species in Florida and everywhere else in the world outside of Africa. If anything, wiping them out should reduce the pressure on the many native species of mosquito (which, in general, don't carry human diseases).

perlgeek 5y ago

the problem with an approach like this is that it doesn't offer any evolutionary advantage, and so the gene will be lost after a few generations.

rich_sasha 5y ago
What evolutionary advantage comes from induced infertility?
- dymk 5y ago
  None, they just die. There is no chance of adaptation. Gene line ends.