A new way of creating genetically modified insects to wipe out many bug-borne diseases is raising concerns among some scientists about potentially devastating unintended consequences, the
Independent reports.
Researchers have devised a way to engineer mosquitoes to have malaria-resistant genes to prevent transmission of the disease to people.
But critics say it could allow harmful genes to spread in the wild, should the bugs accidentally escape from a laboratory. They are warning about carrying out experimental work without taking adequate precautions against the possibility of escape from laboratories in so-called “gene drive” research.
“We have published methods by which gene drives can be kept confined not only by physical means but ecological and molecular methods,” said George Church of Harvard University.
“All of these should be employed especially with flying organisms and for organisms common in the wild near the lab.”
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