Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Approved For Insect Population Control In The U.S.
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Approved For Insect Population Control In The U.S.
Tags: Arbovirus, Dengue, Genetic biocontrol, North America, Oxitec, Sterile insect technique (SIT)J. Blum, HUFFPOST, 2020.
Genetically modified mosquitoes with the ability to prevent other mosquitoes from spreading deadly diseases may be making their way to Florida backyards in the near future.
British biotech group Oxitec announced on Tuesday that the company had won both federal and state approval to release its so-called “Friendly” mosquitoes in the U.S. on an experimental trial basis, expected to last until 2022, according to documents provided by the Environmental Protection Agency. The insects will first be released in Monroe County, Florida, and Oxitec has plans to also bring them to Harris County, Texas.
