Genetically Modified Mosquitoes To Be Released Once Again and It Is Terrifying
Remember when they first talked about releasing genetically modified mosquitoes?
I had said… If there was ever something important that I learned from watching movies, it was to NOT mess with genetics!
I stand by that statement 100%, as much as I hate mosquitoes, messing with genetics freaks me out because I think about the worst-case scenarios every single time.
Within the next two years, BILLIONS of genetically modified mosquitoes are supposed to be released, advocacy groups are fighting against it and I’m honestly right there with them.
The EPA announced that the current study on reducing the Aedes aegypti mosquito population will be extended through April 2024.
The locations for this expanded version of the EPA study are Stanislaus, Fresno, Tulare, and San Bernardino counties located in California and Monroe County in Florida.
The GMO Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been altered to contain a protein called Tetracycline Trans-Activator Variant.
The plan is that the genetically modified male mosquitoes will mate with non-GMO female mosquitos and that any female offspring will die before maturity.
Only the male larvae survive to adulthood. All the female progeny die as larvae. So this is a way of controlling an invasive mosquito species.
Rajeev Vaidyanathan, director of U.S. programs for Oxford-based Oxitec, told The San Bernardino Sun
The goal is that this could help reduce diseases carried by mosquitos such as chikungunya, Zika, dengue, and yellow fever.
The first time they did this was in 2021 in the Florida Keys and they released millions of them.
Environmental advocacy groups have been speaking out against this and personally, I’m listening.
I mean… this is an experiment that is being tested amongst humans, not in some sealed facility.
Maybe I watch too many movies, I dunno…
There’s no immediate problem, and there are a lot of unknowns.
Dana Perls, food and technology program manager with Friends of the Earth
I feel that there needs to be more scientific data about the long-term impacts of releasing genetically modified insects.
One concern is that the counties in California where the releases are planned have a lot of agriculture and one of the chemicals in pesticides used could interfere with the plan for these GMO mosquitos.
These mosquitoes are genetically engineered to stay alive if they can get access to tetracycline. “If the female mosquito can get access to tetracycline, it can keep living and keep breeding.
Jaydee Hanson, policy director for the International Center for Technology Assessment and Center for Food Safety told the Sun
Jaydee Hanson also said that there is concerning secrecy behind the project since Oxitec is permitted to keep portions of the research results private during these experiments.
Big portions of the environmental effects have been blacked out (on reports) and, more concerning to me, most of all the discussions of the allergic reactions to these mosquitoes has been blacked out. If this is the best thing since sliced bread, show us how you slice it.
Jaydee Hanson told the Sun
Yes, show us how you slice it… let’s apply that to all of the science, why would be ok with anything being hidden?
I would like them to feel better by disclosing all of their human health effects. I’m someone who has acute allergic reactions to things. I’d like to know when they’re releasing these things. That’s just the basic human right to know.
Jaydee Hanson told the Sun
So, what are your thoughts on genetically modified critters being unleashed to roam freely amongst us when there is very little data supporting that this is safe?
