Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Released in Florida Keys
May 28, 2021 09:31AM ● By Erin Lehn
The British company Oxitec, a Bill Gates-backed biotech
firm, has recently released the first batch of 750 million genetically modified
mosquitos in the United States in an effort to control the mosquito population
in the Florida Keys.
Local Florida officials state that this trial attempt is necessary as pesticides
have become increasingly ineffective against the overwhelming mosquito
population. While the Aedes aegypti only
accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total mosquito population in the
Keys, the species was responsible for 70 cases of dengue fever in 2020. They
can also carry diseases such as the Zika virus, chikungunya and yellow fever.
“At the end of the day, our hope is to be
able to control this mosquito more
efficiently and keep our population below any sort of disease transmission
threshold,” says Andrea Leal, executive director of the Florida Keys Mosquito
District, in an article featured in USA Today. “Our toolbox for Aedes
aegypti control is shrinking, unfortunately, and that’s making us think outside
of the box.”
Over the course
of 12 weeks, approximately 144,000 genetically modified mosquitoes will be
released each week, for a total of more than 1.7 million, with more anticipated
if the experiment is successful. Once the non-biting Aedes aegypti males are
released, they’re expected to mate with the biting females, thereby genetically
modifying their offspring. The projected outcome is that future generations of
female offspring will die before reaching maturity, thus reducing the mosquito
population, and controlling disease transmission in humans and animals.
However,
opponents argue that releasing genetically modified mosquitoes into the
environment could cause unintended long-term consequences. “When you disrupt an
ecological system whether it’s a small disruption or a big disruption, you’re
going to have an impact,” says Dana Perls, program manager at Friends of the
Earth, in that same USA Today article. “History has taught us time and
time again that we need serious precaution with new genetic engineering
experiments and technologies. Once you release this genetic material into the
wild, you can’t recall it.”
Friends of the
Earth is one of many environmental organizations concerned about the outcomes
of the research. “People here in Florida do not consent to the GE mosquitoes or
to being human experiments. We are demanding sound science, not marketing hype.
It is critical to prioritize the less risky, more environmentally sustainable,
lower cost and natural alternatives,” says Barry Wray, executive director of
the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition, in an article posted on the Friends
of the Earth website.
An article by
Dharna Noor posted on Gizmodo.com cites a 2019 Yale University study
warning that the plan could backfire. “Those scientists found that while most
female offspring from the GMO bugs die off, between 3 and 4 percent of them
generally survive into adulthood, and it’s not clear if they’re infertile,”
writes Noor. “That means by mating with the disease-spreading mosquitoes, the
Oxitec mosquitoes could create hybrid babies that could actually be more
resistant to insecticides than wild mosquitoes and worsen the spread of
disease.”
The article
also states concerns about how the mosquitoes will interact with the local
ecosystems. “One field study on the mosquitoes from Brazil found that the bugs’
engineered genes spread into wild mosquito populations,” shares Noor. “It’s not
clear what ecological effects that could have in the Florida Keys, which is
worrisome because the region is home to such rich and sensitive habitats. Last
month, a panel of independent experts testified at the Florida Keys Mosquito
Board, raising these issues.”
For more information, visit Friends of the Earth at
foe.org or the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition at fkec.org.