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Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

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August 26, 2018

Why in news?

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is hesitant to permit field trials to release GM mosquitoes to tackle certain diseases.

What is the initiative?

  • Aedes aegypti mosquito is the carrier of diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya.
  • A new initiative thus aims at reducing the population of Aedes aegypti mosquito.
  • It comes from the Mumbai-based company, Gangabishan Bhikulal Investment and Trading Limited (GBIT).

What is the new gene?

  • Diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya are transmitted when an infected, pregnant female mosquito bites somebody.
  • Males do not bite and are, therefore, harmless.
  • So GBIT wants to introduce a new Genetically Modified (GM) male Aedes aegypti mosquito.
  • This GM insect has been bred by Oxitec, an R&D biotech company with roots in the University of Oxford.
  • Oxitec has bio-engineered a transgenic male Aedes aegypti mosquito.
  • This carries a new gene fatal only to female mosquitoes.

What does it do?

  • The idea is to release a large number of such GM male mosquitoes into the trial zone.
  • These will then breed with normal females in the wild.
  • In the next generation, only the males would survive and these would breed again, with normal females.
  • After a few generations, the female population will be drastically reduced.
  • Eventually this cycle will result in a reduction of the entire mosquito population.

                           

How is it justified?

  • The life cycle of a mosquito is only around two-three weeks.
  • So the effects of the trial should be apparent in a few months.
  • Transgenic males do not bite and the modified genes are said to be harmless to humans.
  • The so-called “Friendly Aedes” project launched “closed cage” trials at the Oxitec facility in Maharashtra.
  • Trials have been launched in Malaysia, Brazil, and Florida as well.
  • Given these, permission has now been sought for open field trials in India.

Why is DBT hesitant to approve?

  • Indian policy has been very cautious about allowing the genetically modified technologies.
  • DBT scientists fear that there may be unknown hazards associated with large scale trials.
  • It is thus feared that it could result in harmful consequences to the environment or ecology.
  • Notably, the Aedes aegypti is part of the food chain.
  • During its life cycle, it is consumed by fishes.
  • Also, during its early aquatic phase, it is consumed by frogs and then by birds, lizards and spiders.
  • A drastic reduction in the mosquito population could thus impact prey species.
  • This could also potentially result in ecological collapse.
  • There is also a possibility that the engineered genes could directly harm the species that consume mosquitoes.
  • More research may be required to ensure that there are no unforeseen consequences.

 

Source: Business Standard

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