A technique called 'gene drive' is being advocated for driving feral populations of mice on islands to extinction (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jan/23/scientists-rewrite-mice-dna-so-genes-can-be-spread-through-species). The modifications to the organism's DNA are such that they rapidly spread through the entire population even when they result in infertility (this is exactly what doesn't happen in normal natural selection). The reason for advocating the method is that it would remove the introduced rodents more effectively than using poisoning (the only current alternative) in situations where they threaten the survival of ground nesting seabirds. This is all very good but suggestions that 'gene drive' can be used to, e.g. remove malaria transmitting mosquitos, are more problematic. Malaria is a very serious hazard for humans but the mosquitos are not restricted to small areas (so, treated areas might be rapidly repopulated). It is also the case that many fish and bird species are dependent on larval and adult mosquitos as major food sources. Their elimination might have wide-ranging effects on ecosystems.
No comments:
Post a Comment