The lab-raised, male mosquitoes are meant to breed with the invasive ones on the islands and produce sterile eggs that will help suppress avian malaria
Yeah, this is a good example of what science and engineering are for. That title reads like it’s pro-mosquito. I don’t think they’re an important part of the food chain, so I was baffled for a little bit. After reading further, I was relieved to find it was anti-mosquito/malaria. Perhaps science hasn’t gone far enough. I’d be happy to see the extinction of mosquitoes in my lifetime. We as a species have killed off many before, but this is probably the taxonomic family that most deserves to die.
I think it’s generally wise to be cautious with ecosystems. Having said that, if we’re going to keep wiping entire taxons off the map, I say we put mosquitoes at the top of that list.
Really important to read the details here. I was so ready to be mad at those scientists after only reading the title.
Has science gone too far!?
No.
Yeah, this is a good example of what science and engineering are for. That title reads like it’s pro-mosquito. I don’t think they’re an important part of the food chain, so I was baffled for a little bit. After reading further, I was relieved to find it was anti-mosquito/malaria. Perhaps science hasn’t gone far enough. I’d be happy to see the extinction of mosquitoes in my lifetime. We as a species have killed off many before, but this is probably the taxonomic family that most deserves to die.
People fear unintended consequences too much when it comes to the eradication of mosquitoes.
I think it’s generally wise to be cautious with ecosystems. Having said that, if we’re going to keep wiping entire taxons off the map, I say we put mosquitoes at the top of that list.