Mutant mosquitoes: GM insects ‘engineered’ in ‘new approach to pest control’

Evolution takes thousands to millions of years to run its course, but University of Minnesota scientists have created a way to fast-forward this process within a year. A team led by biochemist Dr Mike Smanski has generated so-called “speciation events” in fruit flies, with speculation this can be extended to other insects such as mosquitoes.

The speciation results in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) capable of reproducing with each other.

However, any sex with unmodified insects will result in offspring unable to survive.

This cutting-edge research provides the foundations for plans to prevent genetically modified organisms from reproducing with wild organisms.

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