Name: Re-engineering mosquitos to fight disease
Uploaded: 2013-01-03T16:04:24Z
Duration: 13 min 40 s
Description: In a single year, there are 200-300 million cases of malaria and 50-100 million cases of dengue fever worldwide. So: Why haven't we found a way to effectively kill mosquitos yet? Hadyn Parry presents a fascinating solution: genetically engineering male mosquitos to make them sterile, and releasing the insects into the wild, to cut down on disease-carrying species.

Hadyn Parry: Re-engineering mosquitos to fight disease

Re-engineering mosquitos to fight disease

In a single year, there are 200-300 million cases of malaria and 50-100 million cases of dengue fever worldwide. So: Why haven't we found a way to effectively kill mosquitos yet? Hadyn Parry presents a fascinating solution: genetically engineering male mosquitos to make them sterile, and releasing the insects into the wild, to cut down on disease-carrying species.

Mosquitos have killed more humans than any other animal, causing hundreds of millions of cases of malaria and dengue fever each year. Traditional control methods like chemicals and fogging have failed to stop their explosive spread, especially as dengue fever cases have increased thirtyfold in fifty years. A novel approach uses genetically engineered male mosquitos that produce no viable offspring, slashing populations by up to 85 percent in field trials. This targeted solution aims to save lives while minimizing harm to the environment and other species.