Tuesday, 24 November 2015

A New Drive Against Malaria?


The story of GM mosquitoes continues with an account of using a technology called 'gene drive' (http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/nov/23/anti-malarial-mosquitoes-created-using-controversial-genetic-technology). This technique can apparently be used introduce a gene for producing human antibodies against the malarial parasite to the biting fly and most of the offspring of such flies would also be unable to pass Plasmodium on to their human host. Some people feel, however, that gene drive has to be used with great care because of the possibility of unintended environmental consequences.

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Seeing the Changes 2186

The fungus season is also early this year with what might be a Summer bolete ( Boleatus reticulatus ) in my Loughor garden.