I think we're too eager to kill off mosquitoes, or even restrict their blood-drinking. Mosquitoes can actually subsist on nectar, but the effect their blood-drinking has on the environment at large is hugely beneficial - many food chains are founded on largely mosquito larvae, and they get their protein from blood their mothers drank (thus why only females drink blood). If not for that protein, many animals suffer from protein deficiency, and every animal above them on the chain feels it.
On Sunday, June 3, 2012 4:31:39 AM UTC-4, Mega wrote:
Hey, that's a great idea...
What I read so far:
It has been tried the following: Genetically engineerred to be infertile males were released into the wilderness. They mated with the female mosquitos and those lay eggs. But the 'children' generation died in the larvae state.
The mosquito population was reduced to 20 % (upt to 80% were killed!)
Mosquitoes are annoying, so why not make the human-blood-sucking of them get extinct instead?? (Animal blood OK)
Am Samstag, 2. Juni 2012 10:12:24 UTC+2 schrieb Margret Storm:Would it be possible to engineer a contagious bacterial strain that resided in the digestive tracts of mosquitoes, and had little effect other than releasing antimicrobial enzymes into the pharynx and salivary glands? Hopefully, this would prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, as well as help prevent secondary infection of bites.Forgive me in advance for any ignorance - the idea has been bugging me (hah), and I really want to know.
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