…and Biotech’s experiment becomes our disaster. Action Alert!
In 2013, a British biotech company, Oxitec, unleased nearly half a million genetically modified mosquitoes in Brazil in an attempt to reduce mosquito-borne diseases. But the experiment has not gone to plan, according to a new paper: the experiment has resulted in the unintended contamination of the local mosquito population, despite the assurances from Oxitec that this would not happen. We must make sure similar experiments are not allowed to occur on American soil.
Oxitec developed a GM mosquito that has a dominant lethal gene that is supposed to result in infertile offspring. The goal of the GM mosquito experiment was to reduce the number of mosquitoes while not affecting the genetic integrity of the population. It appears, though, that a certain percentage of the offspring of the genetically modified mosquitoes are surviving.
This genetic intermingling could have far-reaching consequences. The mosquitoes in Brazil, as a result of this experiment, now have genetic traits from three different mosquito populations. This mingling of traits from different species can result in a phenomenon known as “hybrid vigor,” providing an evolutionary boost that creates a more “robust” mosquito.
These are exactly the kind if unintended consequences ANH and others in the natural health community have been concerned about when it comes to genetic modification. Recall that genetically modified mosquitoes have been released in Florida to fight the Zika virus. At the time, the FDA concluded that the release of the GM mosquitoes would have “no significant impact.” Clearly, the federal government cannot be trusted to get this right.
Action Alert! Write to Congress and the FDA and tell them to halt the release of any GM mosquitoes to prevent disastrous, unintended consequences. Please send your message immediately.
23 comments
Comments are closed.
NO GMO mosquitos!
This type of meddling has NEVER gone well. Please stop this “experiment” before it is too late. Thank you.
Genetically modified mosquitos are a public health threat. Emergency legislation is needed to halt any release of GM mosquitos in the US.
Please halt the release of any GM mosquitoes to prevent disastrous, unintended consequences.
Famous last words: “It can’t happen. And if it does happen, it can’t happen here.” Well, IT CAN AND IT DID!
Bio-engineered mosquitoes?? Are you really ready for that? I’m certainly not!!
Halt the release of any Genetically modified mosquitoes!
I mean, what the heck is going on? Why are you allowing this when it could decimate a population of people?? Please, for the love of God, halt any release of Generically modified insects, food, fish, bread, everything.
Halt the release of GM mosquitoes!
Oxitec developed a GM mosquito that has a dominant lethal gene that is supposed to result in infertile offspring. The goal of the GM mosquito experiment was to reduce the number of mosquitoes while not affecting the genetic integrity of the population. It appears, though, that a certain percentage of the offspring of the genetically modified mosquitoes are surviving.
This genetic intermingling could have far-reaching consequences. The mosquitoes in Brazil, as a result of this experiment, now have genetic traits from three different mosquito populations. This mingling of traits from different species can result in a phenomenon known as “hybrid vigor,” providing an evolutionary boost that creates a more “robust” mosquito.
These are exactly the kind if unintended consequences ANH and others in the natural health community have been concerned about when it comes to genetic modification. Recall that genetically modified mosquitoes have been released in Florida to fight the Zika virus. At the time, the FDA concluded that the release of the GM mosquitoes would have “no significant impact.” Clearly, the federal government cannot be trusted to get this right.
We need to take better care of what is left of our environment, our wildlife, and our marine life.
GMO mosquitoes are just one more example of how when Nature left alone does not create it, don’t create it. We suppose the scientists in GMO insects, animals, plants and humans must be satanists, whether they realize it or not. Destroying the natural scheme of things qualifies as high evil.
I would gladly support this endeavor by sending my letter to my representatives that I do no want GM mosquito released. However, the little captcha thingy does not let me. I have tried about 18 times but alas, never got the plainly printed letters correct.
Please halt the release of any GM mosquitoes to prevent disastrous, unintended consequences.
These GMO mosquitoes should never be released in the USA
To ALL American Legislators & FDA Regulators,
I am deeply concerned about GM mosquitoes and their impact on the environment. As a voting USA citizens, I demand an immediate HALT of the release of any GM mosquitoes in order to prevent disastrous, unintended consequences.
Please stop creating genetically modified organisms. They only seem to cause problems with far-reaching consequences.
Hey why are you do cavalierly assuming that you can improve on natural selection in such a sensitive ecosystem. Do you even give a damn if your experiments wipe out certain species, namely the human race? How can you play God like this. I hope your own children get bitten by these monster mosquitoes.
STOP THESE GM MKOSQUITOS
GM mosquitoes are an ecological disaster in the making. Stop this insanity!
I understand that the intentions are good, but proof is mounting that a lot more research needs to be done to determine the safety of GMO’s before they are released into the wild. At the very least, interaction with non-GMO organisms need to be studied in confined, controlled environment for numerous generations to be certain that the outcome is as predicted. It’s seems this is not being done and GMOs are being released based on theories instead of facts and creating unforeseen problems. No one knows what the long term consequences will be. Please work to get procedures and protocols changed to assure that GMO are, in fact, benign in the long run before they are released.
My wife has been sick for 8 weeks straight. It started out like a cold, then progressed to like the flu, but without the fever. Now she has a nagging lingering cough that won’t quit. It’s like bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis all rolled up in one. She showed me a bite before all this started that was larger and more inflamed than normal. She complained the bite itched like crazy and would not stop itching. I am convinced she got bit by one of those frankenmosquitoes from Florida.
Nature has a way of always improving itself and things do not end in disaster….man dominating and manipulating nature with the distorted mindset that says… “we know better” and the belief that “we can improve on “nature’s plan”, too often ends in disaster. Why not let nature work it out and be content with humbly being part of the whole, holy, grand scheme, in harmony and interconnected with the cosmos and with all of the natural order?…this is wisdom.
Nature is perfect in its evolution. We have no right to believe we can improve it.
While I understand the concern that this “serilization gene” hasn’t worked as planned, why are so many alarmed when there’s no evidence that these hybrids are any more dangerous than unmodified mosquitoes?