r/technology • u/lurker_bee • 23h ago

Biotechnology Burkina Faso says no to Bill Gates’ plan of creating modified species of mosquitoes

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/burkina-faso-says-no-to-bill-gates-plan-of-creating-modified-species-of-mosquitoes/xyk7xm8
9.5k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

5

u/Neve4ever 16h ago

The genetically modified mosquitoes in this particular plan are meant to interbreed with the "undesirable mosquitoes", and to pass on a genetic mutation that lowers fertility rates so that the species collapses. They aren't replaced.

Of course, that type of evolutionary pressure could lead to us seeing some weird shit when the "fittest" survive. And if it ends up crossing to "desirable mosquitoes" then we could end up seeing the collapse of all mosquitoes.

1

u/spookymulderfbi 14h ago

Agreed, that's a good clarification, the genetically modified mosquitoes just breed with existing mosquitoes, and the mutated offspring would be the replenishment / replacement generation.

Also agreed that all angles need to be considered, such as your example of them breeding outside their intended population, which could end up giving rise to other unintended mutations in other species, etc. It's definitely wild.