Tackling Dengue fever by turning female mosquitoes into males
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T. Sandle,
DIGTAL JOURNAL,
2020.
Genetic engineering appears to be the key for delivering mosquito control, according to new research. Scientists have successfully converted female mosquitoes into non-biting males. Genetic engineering appears to be the key for delivering mosquito control, according to new research. Scientists have successfully converted female mosquitoes into non-biting males.
Research undertaken at Virgina Tech has demonstrated how the alteration of a single gene can convert female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes into fertile male mosquitoes. The location of this gene and its subsequent modification may be all that is needed for mosquito control. The gene is the on necessary for male mosquito flight.
Aedes aegypti is otherwise known as the yellow fever mosquito. This mosquito can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, Mayaro and yellow fever viruses. The mosquito is not associated with the transmission of malaria.
More related to this: Gene silencing and gene drive in dengue vector control Genetically engineered mosquitoes resist spreading any form of dengue Mariner transposition and transformation of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti |
