Skip to comments.
GM fungus rapidly kills 99% of malaria mosquitoes, study suggests
BBC ^
| James Gallagher
Posted on 05/31/2019 8:06:13 AM PDT by BenLurkin
A fungus - genetically enhanced to produce spider toxin - can rapidly kill huge numbers of the mosquitoes that spread malaria, a study suggests.
Trials, which took place in Burkina Faso, showed mosquito populations collapsed by 99% within 45 days.
Conducting the study, researchers at the University of Maryland in the US - and the IRSS research institute in Burkina Faso - first identified a fungus called Metarhizium pingshaense, which naturally infects the Anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria.
The next stage was to enhance the fungus.
They turned to a toxin found in the venom of a species of funnel-web spider in Australia.
The genetic instructions for making the toxin were added to the fungus's own genetic code so it would start making the toxin once it was inside a mosquito.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: africa; anopheles; australia; burkinafaso; fungus; funnelwebspider; genetically; indonesia; malaria; maryland; metarhizium; modified; mosquito; mosquitoes; pingshaense; uofmaryland
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-71 next last
1
posted on
05/31/2019 8:06:13 AM PDT
by
BenLurkin
And here I thought GM was supposed to make cars, not fungus. No wonder my last Chevy fell apart.
2
posted on
05/31/2019 8:07:54 AM PDT
by
Olog-hai
("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
To: BenLurkin
GM Fungus? What is that, some new electric car?
To: BenLurkin
Wouldn’t it be easier to just bring back DDT?
4
posted on
05/31/2019 8:08:37 AM PDT
by
jospehm20
To: BenLurkin
Do try to keep them away from the bees please.
5
posted on
05/31/2019 8:08:38 AM PDT
by
epluribus_2
(he had the best mom - rever.)
To: BenLurkin
Oh, great.
You think emigration from there is high NOW?
Just wait.
6
posted on
05/31/2019 8:10:36 AM PDT
by
gaijin
To: BenLurkin
Bring back dating:
How about a fungus that dissolves cats, boxed wine and Suburus?
7
posted on
05/31/2019 8:11:52 AM PDT
by
gaijin
To: Buckeye McFrog; Olog-hai
GM trying to compete with the Toyota Virus....
.jpg)
8
posted on
05/31/2019 8:12:19 AM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
To: epluribus_2
I’m no treehugger but it’s safe bet that after the mosquitoes went the bats, after the bats 20 owls, Hawks, raccoons, well you get the picture. Be careful with that stuff and make sure the boardroom can’t over rule field workers
9
posted on
05/31/2019 8:13:09 AM PDT
by
epluribus_2
(he had the best mom - rever.)
To: BenLurkin
It's not nice to fool Mother Nature. Animals who feed on mosquitoes could die out too. From Google:
Bats. Birds. Turtles ... Dragonflies..... Damselflies. ... Fish. Goldfish, guppies, bass, bluegill and catfish (mosquito larvae)...
To: BenLurkin
I believe that genetic engineering will benefit mankind but making an infectious fungus more deadly cannot end well.
To: Buckeye McFrog
LOL!........................
12
posted on
05/31/2019 8:17:33 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
To: BenLurkin
somehow, the old song about the “Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” comes to mind.
13
posted on
05/31/2019 8:18:08 AM PDT
by
Ruy Dias de Bivar
( Three days in FB prison for this...'What was "IT"? A DNA XX or a DNA XY?')
To: gaijin
“How about a fungus that dissolves cats, boxed wine and Suburus?”
Would you really want a whacky cat lady if you actually caught one?
To: wildcard_redneck
15
posted on
05/31/2019 8:20:23 AM PDT
by
gaijin
To: BenLurkin
A self-replicating, venomous fungus. What could possibly go wrong?
16
posted on
05/31/2019 8:21:17 AM PDT
by
Ingtar
I am sure there is absolutely no conceivable unforseen consequences that can possibly go wrong
17
posted on
05/31/2019 8:22:19 AM PDT
by
dsrtsage
(For Leftists, World History starts every day at breakfastφφΣ)
To: Ingtar
18
posted on
05/31/2019 8:23:19 AM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
To: LurkedLongEnough
It's not nice to fool Mother Nature. Animals who feed on mosquitoes could die out too. From Google: Bats. Birds. Turtles ... Dragonflies..... Damselflies. ... Fish. Goldfish, guppies, bass, bluegill and catfish (mosquito larvae)...
And the birds will start looking for other food
19
posted on
05/31/2019 8:27:00 AM PDT
by
COBOL2Java
(AOC: The brain of a tea bisquit)
To: epluribus_2
The genetic instructions for making the toxin were added to the fungus's own genetic code so it would start making the toxin once it was inside a mosquito.If this toxin ONLY developed inside the gut of the mosquito, it theoretically would only hurt the mosquito. But that is a very big IF
20
posted on
05/31/2019 8:27:46 AM PDT
by
FatherofFive
(Islam is EVIL and needs to be eradicated)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-71 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
