Breeding genetically modified mosquitoes against dengue fever

The study, published in NAS's Proceeding magazine, says scientists are cultivating a genetically modified mosquito to fight the spread of dengue outbreaks.

Picture 1 of Breeding genetically modified mosquitoes against dengue fever

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The virus that causes dengue is transmitted through mosquitoes that bite people and there is currently no vaccine or special medicine.

Statistics experts say the disease spreads to 100 million people a year and threatens one-third of the world's population.

Scientists hope that male mosquitoes they cultivate when mating with female mosquitoes will produce a female female mosquito that contains a winged limited gene. Female mosquitoes in the next generation, receive the genes of their father's mosquitoes and cannot fly because the wings cannot grow normally. Male mosquitoes carrying this gene continue to fly normally.

According to researcher Luke Alphey from Oxford University and technology transfer company Oxitec Ltd, this technique is exclusively for one species, because males of any generation only mate with females of that generation.

If this measure is implemented, the new mosquito will be able to eliminate natural mosquitoes within 6-9 months.

Professor Anthony James of the research team at the University of California in Irvine said: 'Current dengue control measures are not sufficiently effective and new measures are needed. Controlling mosquitoes is a source of infection that will reduce the level of disease and death in humans. '/.