Anyone live in the United states, Florida? Scientists plan on releasing genetically modified mosquitoes. Do you think scientists are playing god and need to stop or do you support the possibility that viruses that are carried by mosquitoes will be killed?

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/01/26/fda-could-set-millions-genetically-modified-mosquitos-loose-in-florida-keys/

Playing god. Here we go. -_- I think what the scientists are doing is a good thing. Science needs to be expanded and explored at a safe and steady pace.

Just kill those mosquito!!!

Some scientist is going too far I guess

Science has no limits, its a infinite cycle.

hi :D ı sing in turkey :D my englis is bad

For those that are commenting and didn't actually take a peek: the purpose for this is to create a mosquito that has self-destructing larvae. This is to lessen if not end the mosquito population. They're pushing for this, and it seems to work so far, but there's a number of complications so far:
-if these no mosquitoes feed on other organisms, they don't know what will happen to said organism
-if these mosquitoes are TOO effective and wipe out a food source from the local ecosystem (frogs, spiders, and a few other things eat mosquitoes)
-if they can keep this 'field test' under control

Is it just me that's concerned with these things, or no? Because this seems to be a pretty big deal

Sounds, interesting, but if it could actually kill HIV virus, then I would be intrigued :3

Actually I really think it would be cool and I'm pro for the idea it's just so many people think it would seriously affect the environment and it could I think I would fully support it if more was done to assure that it wouldn't have many serious affects to the environment also it needs to be approved and like I said back when I posted this some people actually think scientists are playing god or they are doing despicable things

>>7 nope you are not the only one because there is also me now ^^""""

And just for the sake of the argument didn't man play God when he created organised relegion? I'm not against it I'm just using it as an example. Another extreme example would be what happened to Japan in the end of WWII while a milder one would be when the first sheep was cloned. Did the world end? Not exactly. It just changed. I'm not saying kill all mosquitoes but if we can get the field test to succeed then we would have a weapon against malaria (note that only people with sickle cell anemia are immune to malaria and the percentage of them in the world is small)

I don't like any mosquitoes, they are like flying needles with wings (yes I know that saying they are flying implys that they have wings, please forgive me in half asleep)

I am definitely for this idea, but only after they figure out what bites will do and if they do an actual test in a controlled, simulated environment. The articles I've read so far imply they went from test tube to field test without building up to it, which I really think they should do (and supply results with).

What are the genetic modifications doing to the mosquitoes? Making them more aggressive?

>>13 read.

Where the place i will kill them before they realise the mosquito

That fox news. Essentially, its true.

For those just getting to this and haven't elected to read and/or don't trust Fox (and who can blame you?) please refer to >>7

Or refer to this other source.

Genetical modification isn't something exactly new. It's ethical relevance is still an issue of debate. But look at it this way; like everything else, it has it's pro's and is expected to have it's cons as well. Forms of species neuterment to reduce fertility to control population and diseases isn't new to us. This is just a big leap, whether forward or backward is still in question

If the larvae self-destruct then this is not a threat at all to any ecosystem, as long as the ecosystem isn't fully comprised of these self-destructing mosquitoes. They cannot reproduce, and therefore, cannot overtake an ecosystem under normal circumstances.

I don't live in Florida, and I haven't heard of this before, but I find this pretty interesting.

It's kinda hard to believe in this news but it's not also good playing on something like this though.

So long as the mosquitoes themselves don't die out, I'm fine with them genetically altering mosquitoes. Mother nature tends to balance herself out. And if Floridians hate mosquitoes enough to seek there extinction, then nature would simply come up with something worse then mosquitoes.

hmmm im Florida but i dont know much about this since i recently moved here from puerto rico

More info for those who want to know but don't want to read much: >>17

I think it's fine actually. It says they are genetically altering the mosquitoes to help fight diseases and I think that's great. They shouldn't go too far and start altering animals higher up on the chain that could severely damage the ecosystem and become harmful to everyone. As long as they don't mutate and starting singing like some of the other quarter sized mosquitoes... then I'm fine. Those guys are /not/ fun

Well this is certainly new to me...

sounds like fun hope they release modified pidgeons that die off once they eat into the wild thatd help in the NYC area

I do know that in Brazil there's a plan to release a modified Aedes Aegyptt that doesn't spread the dengue fever, they will have 2 mores genes, and when they reproduce with a normal Aedes Agypti, their offsprings quickly dies

The idea seems to be a good one. But I'm also in FL and at the same time I'm not really sure I like the idea of genetically modifying insects because last time we did something similar we got lovebugs and that didn't go over too well lol.

no matter how good their intention is there is always going to be a downside, just saying. genetically altered mosquitoes hmmm.... the next few years you will see mosquito-man flying around u.s. :))

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