Florida Keys to Use Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Fight Disease
2020-08-26
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1Officials in the Florida Keys plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes next year in an effort to fight insect-borne diseases.
2Genetically modified means an organism's genetic structure has been changed through genetic engineering.
3The test project in the Keys, a group of islands off Florida's southern coast, will involve the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
4The mosquito is not native to Florida.
5But it does transmit several diseases to humans, including dengue fever and the Zika virus.
6In the Keys, nearly 50 cases of dengue have been reported so far this year.
7The project is led by biotechnology company Oxitec.
8It is an American-owned company based in Britain.
9The plan calls for the release of millions of male, genetically modified mosquitoes to mate with females that bite humans.
10The company says its male mosquitoes, which do not bite, are genetically engineered with a protein that makes any female offspring unable to survive.
11The process aims to lower the overall population of the insects to reduce the transmission of disease.
12Kevin Gorman is an Oxitec scientist.
13He told The Associated Press the company completed similar projects in the Cayman Islands and Brazil that went "extremely well."
14"We have released over a billion of our mosquitoes over the years," Gorman said.
15"There is no potential for risk to the environment or humans."
16In a press release, Oxitec noted numerous studies by government agencies supporting the safety of the project.
17The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the experimental project.
18Several government agencies in Florida approved it as well.
19Some groups, however, worry that the use of genetically modified organisms could change the planet's natural balance.
20At a recent meeting of the Florida Keys mosquito control board, several people questioned the effects of the project.
21"You have no idea what that will do," Barry Wray told the board.
22He is the director of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition.
23Some experts have also questioned whether or not the modified mosquitoes can effectively crash the mosquito population in Florida as planned.
24"The mosquitoes created in a lab have not gone through a natural selection process, in which only the fittest survive and mate," said Max Moreno, an expert in mosquito-borne diseases at Indiana University.
25He is not involved with the company or the test project.
26Moreno asked, "Once they are released in the natural environment, will they be as fit as the naturally occurring males and able to outcompete them for mates?"
27Another question is whether the mosquitoes could have unplanned effects on the environment.
28For example, if a spider, frog or bird eats the mosquito, will the modified protein have any effect on the predator?
29Moreno said an ecosystem is so complex and involves so many species that it would be nearly impossible to test all of them beforehand in a laboratory.
30Still, Keys mosquito board members voted 4-1 in favor of the project.
31One of the supporters was Jill Cranny-Gage.
32She told the meeting that insecticides and other chemical methods have become less effective against the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
33"The science is there," Cranny-Gage said.
34"We're trying everything in our power, and we're running out of options."
35I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Officials in the Florida Keys plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes next year in an effort to fight insect-borne diseases. 2Genetically modified means an organism's genetic structure has been changed through genetic engineering. 3The test project in the Keys, a group of islands off Florida's southern coast, will involve the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquito is not native to Florida. But it does transmit several diseases to humans, including dengue fever and the Zika virus. 4In the Keys, nearly 50 cases of dengue have been reported so far this year. 5The project is led by biotechnology company Oxitec. It is an American-owned company based in Britain. The plan calls for the release of millions of male, genetically modified mosquitoes to mate with females that bite humans. 6The company says its male mosquitoes, which do not bite, are genetically engineered with a protein that makes any female offspring unable to survive. The process aims to lower the overall population of the insects to reduce the transmission of disease. 7Kevin Gorman is an Oxitec scientist. He told The Associated Press the company completed similar projects in the Cayman Islands and Brazil that went "extremely well." 8"We have released over a billion of our mosquitoes over the years," Gorman said. "There is no potential for risk to the environment or humans." 9In a press release, Oxitec noted numerous studies by government agencies supporting the safety of the project. The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the experimental project. Several government agencies in Florida approved it as well. 10Some groups, however, worry that the use of genetically modified organisms could change the planet's natural balance. At a recent meeting of the Florida Keys mosquito control board, several people questioned the effects of the project. 11"You have no idea what that will do," Barry Wray told the board. He is the director of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition. 12Some experts have also questioned whether or not the modified mosquitoes can effectively crash the mosquito population in Florida as planned. 13"The mosquitoes created in a lab have not gone through a natural selection process, in which only the fittest survive and mate," said Max Moreno, an expert in mosquito-borne diseases at Indiana University. He is not involved with the company or the test project. 14Moreno asked, "Once they are released in the natural environment, will they be as fit as the naturally occurring males and able to outcompete them for mates?" 15Another question is whether the mosquitoes could have unplanned effects on the environment. For example, if a spider, frog or bird eats the mosquito, will the modified protein have any effect on the predator? 16Moreno said an ecosystem is so complex and involves so many species that it would be nearly impossible to test all of them beforehand in a laboratory. 17Still, Keys mosquito board members voted 4-1 in favor of the project. One of the supporters was Jill Cranny-Gage. She told the meeting that insecticides and other chemical methods have become less effective against the Aedes aegypti mosquito. 18"The science is there," Cranny-Gage said. "We're trying everything in our power, and we're running out of options." 19I'm Bryan Lynn. 20The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 21We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 22________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24transmit - v. to cause a virus of disease to be given to others 25offspring - n. the child of a person or animal 26potential - n. qualities or abilities that may develop and permit someone or something to succeed 27predator - n. animal that hunts and kills other animals for food 28ecosystem - n. a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment 29species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 30beforehand - adv. before a particular time or event 31option - n. a choice