Flightless Mosquitoes the Solution to Dengue Fever?

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:41:21 +0000

Where: Oxford, United Kingdom

February 27, 2010 :Scientists have come up with a novel method to tackle the menace of dengue fever. They propose to breed mosquitoes that cant fly. The plan is to genetically alter the male of the species. These males will father a new generation of female mosquitoes with limited wing growth. The females will continue to transmit these genes, but only to female offspring. The male offspring will remain unaffected. Scientists feel this is a safe way to fight the spread of dengue – safer than the use of insecticides. The chief researcher Luke Alphey of the University of Oxford said,“The technology is completely species-specific, as the released males will mate only with females of the same species.”

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Flightless Mosquitoes the Solution to Dengue Fever?