1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

[DOOMED] Scientists Release Controversial Genetically Modified Mosquitoes In High-Security Lab

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Xerobull, Oct 21, 2019.

  1. Xerobull

    Xerobull You son of a b!tch! I'm in!

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2003
    Messages:
    33,254
    Likes Received:
    30,752
    ...what could possibly go wrong?

    VIDEO: See A Controversial Swarm Of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes In A Lab In Italy

    October 20, 20197:00 AM ET

    NPR was on the scene when the first genetically modified mosquitoes were released in a lab in Italy.



    An international team of scientists is conducting a controversial experiment in Italy. The experiment is designed to test genetically modified mosquitoes that researchers hope could provide a powerful new weapon to fight malaria, which remains one of the world's greatest scourges.

    Scientists Release Controversial Genetically Modified Mosquitoes In High-Security Lab

    The mosquitoes are an entirely new kind of genetically modified organism. The insects, members of the species that transmits malaria, were modified using the powerful gene-editing technique CRISPR to carry a sequence of DNA known as a "gene drive," which is designed to drive the genetic modification rapidly through entire populations of the species.

    The mutation is designed to sterilize populations of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in the wild, causing them to crash. And that would, hopefully, help stop the spread of the malaria parasite. But the experiment is controversial because of fears that the genetically modified insects could cause unintended consequences on the environment if they were ever released in the wild.

    So the mosquitoes are being tested first in a specially designed, high-security lab in Terni, Italy. The lab is designed to mimic the natural environment in sub-Saharan Africa — and to make sure none of the insects escapes.

    From the Video: 'The mutation turns all female mosquitoes into mutants: half female, half male'
     
    CCity Zero, BigM and KingCheetah like this.
  2. Falcons Talon

    Falcons Talon Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2002
    Messages:
    7,807
    Likes Received:
    945
    What could possibly go wrong?
     
  3. RKREBORN

    RKREBORN Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    Messages:
    9,701
    Likes Received:
    10,601
  4. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2002
    Messages:
    55,909
    Likes Received:
    47,611
    I don't trust Italians to make anything but spaghetti.
     
    Jontro, Zboy, Uprising and 2 others like this.
  5. CCorn

    CCorn Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2010
    Messages:
    21,377
    Likes Received:
    21,096
    All fun and games until they create the zombie apocalypse
     
  6. Andre0087

    Andre0087 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2012
    Messages:
    8,256
    Likes Received:
    11,207
    Rule 1: Don't **** with nature.
     
  7. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2014
    Messages:
    72,469
    Likes Received:
    110,424
    DDT is your friend
     
  8. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    123,881
    Likes Received:
    32,774
    Idiots...that could collapse the food chain.

    DD
     
  9. Duncan McDonuts

    Duncan McDonuts Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2008
    Messages:
    10,143
    Likes Received:
    3,909
  10. justtxyank

    justtxyank Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2005
    Messages:
    42,653
    Likes Received:
    39,216
    I love when people assume that scientists who literally spend years, decades and sometimes their entire adult lives researching things like this and go through long testing phases think they are "idiots" that haven't thought through the problems.
     
  11. Plowman

    Plowman Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 1999
    Messages:
    12,236
    Likes Received:
    13,142
    [​IMG]
     
    likestohypeguy likes this.
  12. likestohypeguy

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
    Messages:
    3,725
    Likes Received:
    1,760
    Just make sure you have some genetically modified Bolivian tree lizards ready to eat the mosquitos. Then in turn genetically modified Chinese needle snakes for the lizards, then gorillas for the snakes (when winter rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death).
     
  13. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2002
    Messages:
    34,618
    Likes Received:
    33,558
    nm
     
    justtxyank likes this.
  14. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2014
    Messages:
    72,469
    Likes Received:
    110,424
    BigPosters-01sm.jpg

    I actually have this poster on my office door
     
    #14 Os Trigonum, Oct 21, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2019
    likestohypeguy likes this.
  15. Severe Rockets Fan

    Severe Rockets Fan Takin it one stage at a time...

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2001
    Messages:
    5,923
    Likes Received:
    1,490
    They’ve been talking about doing this for like 5-10 years now I thought...hope it turns out like they planned.
     
    malakas likes this.
  16. malakas

    malakas Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2014
    Messages:
    20,167
    Likes Received:
    15,380
    I could have sworn that this has happened 3 years ago already to fight some type of african fever.
     
  17. Gabe0941

    Gabe0941 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Messages:
    890
    Likes Received:
    800
    2:00 the way he holds the mic like this is a stick up. Hahahaha
     
  18. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2002
    Messages:
    56,793
    Likes Received:
    39,077
    Oh, they manage to create all kinds of wonderful food, far more than the noodles, KC. I wouldn't trust them with bugs of any kind, though. This has disaster written all over it. Remember "Children of Men?" Humans had lost the ability to have children. It was planet wide. How, exactly, it happened isn't clearly explained (at least to me), but I can imagine an experiment like this going off the rails and causing widespread sterilization. This experiment apparently turns females into a whole other "sex." One that can't procreate. Inevitably, some of the bugs will manage to procreate anyway and bite humans. Who's to say those humans won't be affected?

    We might be doomed!
     
    KingCheetah and malakas like this.
  19. boomboom

    boomboom I GOT '99 PROBLEMS
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 1999
    Messages:
    12,205
    Likes Received:
    8,526
    So how does this work? Half male, half female.

    Does one side of the mosquito nag the other to death?

    It might work.
     
    Richie_Rich, 1111, Yung-T and 3 others like this.
  20. ThatBoyNick

    ThatBoyNick Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2011
    Messages:
    28,280
    Likes Received:
    43,345
    I'm for it, I can see how many westerners would be hesitant and in general wouldn't care much about it considering we don't firsthand deal with the devastating effects of malaria, viral encephalitis, yellow fever, and countless mosquito-spread diseases. This could literally save a MILLION people's lives every year.

    I think we could also always keep healthy regular mosquito populations in many isolated areas (like islands that don't have dangerous diseases) in case of an emergency, as well as in captivity if we were ever to need to repopulate the species around the world.

    Also, DDT is not your friend.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now