Do Mosquitoes Change Your DNA?
WouterDuring the past few years, scientists have been experimenting with gene editing technology to modify mosquitoes. They hope the new technology will eradicate the disease-carrying insects from the environment. However, there are still questions about the safety of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes.
In this study, researchers used CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat) to modify the mosquitoes’ genome. They added a fluorescent marker to the modified genes. This helped them track the genetic changes and determine if the DNA was intact.
The research also showed that a single DNA fragment can be multiplied thousands of times. This is an important factor in the ability of parasites to become infectious. In addition, it showed that the gene drive technology works in the lab.
It was also determined that the doublesex gene controls mosquito differentiation. When it is present in females, it prevents the mosquitoes from producing offspring. The scientists used this information to try to reduce the population of 600 A gambiae mosquitoes. The population quickly crashed after seven to 11 generations.
Another study examined the mosquito’s body odor. Researchers discovered that the mosquitoes’ mojo is influenced by the type of body odor humans have. This may explain why some mosquitoes prefer certain humans. It is not surprising that mosquitoes are able to recognize human blood. This information could lead to the development of effective repellents.
In the future, the ability to eliminate mosquitoes as a food source may have negative impacts on the ecosystem. But if the mosquitoes are genetically altered to be receptive to human blood, this could be beneficial.
