Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Help Against Malaria?

Here's an interesting article about some genetic manipulation going on to try and create a malaria resistant mosquito, which may then be able to spread this genetic advantage on to future generations... Playing Mother Nature, even if the results seem promising, one has to wonder what else may happen here... (I couldn't find a blogger link, so I've pasted a link to the BBC story here. Robb

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10654599

Mushi No Zu

Drawings from a Japanese scroll, MUSHI NO ZU (Illustrations of Microscopic Insects), published in 1860. From the top: Silverfish(Thysanura), Mosquito(Diptera), Flea(Siphonaptera), Louse(Phthiraptera).



SAE

Chicago = Mosquito Heaven

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Surprisingly hot weather and heavy rainfall has resulted in Chicago having a 20 year peak in the summer mosquito population (I can personally attest to the fact: they are bad this year!).

The season has now shifted to Culex species of mosquito that carries West Nile virus, with the first human case in the region just being reported.






All this buggy and biting news makes me think of the classic comic by John Porcellino, Dairy of a Mosquito Abatement Man, which chronicles his own experiences working the mosquito-ridding beat in Chicago land back in the 1990's... If only John was in Chicago to join the fight!


AY