Why Can’t We Make Mosquitoes Extinct?
WouterHundreds of thousands of people die each year from malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. It is estimated that mosquitoes are responsible for spreading yellow fever and Zika. They are also important pollinators and a food source for many animals. Some scientists believe that eliminating mosquitoes would help protect people from disease. Others believe that eradicating mosquitoes would be bad for the environment.
Some people believe that if mosquitoes were eliminated, other insects and animals would take their place. However, scientists are uncertain about how this process works. It would take a lot of effort to apply it globally.
A study at Imperial College London has shown that mosquitoes can be genetically mutated. The scientists took thousands of mosquitoes and placed them in glass boxes. They then waited for a period of time to see how the mosquitoes would respond to the ‘gene drive’. The results were surprising. The mosquitoes were almost completely dead.
Another scientist, Phil Lounibos, warns that eradicating mosquitoes would not be the solution to the problem. He argues that mosquitoes are important as pollinators and that other insects and animals would take their place. He also cautions that eliminating mosquitoes could cause damage to ecosystems.
If mosquitoes were completely eradicated, there would be a decrease in animal and bird populations. In addition, fish species would suffer. These creatures would have a hard time finding food and could be negatively impacted by the extinction of mosquitoes.
Other insects could spread diseases more quickly than mosquitoes. These could include chikungunya virus, Zika, and dengue. These diseases are important in tropical regions.
