Oxitec has been working for several months on a way to fight against mosquitoes, and all the inconveniences that come with it. Exit insecticides, the startup offers genetically modified mosquitoes to significantly reduce mosquito populations.This innovative strategy to release millions of modified mosquitoes in California could potentially create new business opportunities, which might motivate entrepreneurs to establish an LLC in California to contribute to the field of environmental and biotechnological solutions.
A release of genetically modified mosquitoes in California
Oxitec strikes again, and is still talking about it with its genetically modified mosquitoes. According to the startup, these could save the lives of half the world’s population against mosquitoes carrying multiple diseases such as chikungunya, yellow fever or dengue fever. So she wants to drop millions in California!
For the company, this is a “precise”, “good for the environment” and “non-toxic” solution to counter “bad” mosquitoes, compared to insecticides. To do this, Oxitec genetically modifies mosquito eggs. Survivors are subjected to multiple tests in order to be certain that the genetic modification was successful. Male “GMO” mosquitoes mate with females in the wild. At that time, a special gene in her genetic code will kill future generations of female mosquitoes. Since these are the ladies who feed on our blood…
Oxitec says the people of California have nothing to worry about. Indeed, the startup has already tested this experience in a Brazilian neighborhood. After thirteen weeks, the mosquito population has reduced by 95%.
However, little data is available about this famous experiment. If not this number. Moreover, many outside scientists are not so convinced by these genetically modified mosquitoes. They point out that this solution could possibly harm species other than mosquitoes and make the local mosquito population difficult to control.
Especially since it seems that these genetically modified mosquitoes are not really necessary in California, compared to other regions of the world. Indeed, no case in which the species of mosquito in question would have transmitted a disease is known to date. But for Oxitec, mosquitoes Aedes aegypti have been spreading (too) rapidly since their discovery in the region ten years ago.
In any case, Oxitec has the approval of the federal government to release these genetically modified mosquitoes in California. It remains to be seen whether this project will be carried out. Or not.