Genetic Engineering and Diseases – Gene Drive & Malaria
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell・1 minute read
Genetic engineering has created mosquitoes immune to malaria through CRISPR technology, potentially eradicating the disease by ensuring 99.5% of offspring carry the anti-malaria gene, despite ethical concerns about large-scale genetic modification to combat diseases like malaria.
Insights
- CRISPR technology allows for the creation of malaria-immune mosquitoes by inserting an antibody gene targeting Plasmodium, offering a potential solution to eradicating the disease.
- The ethical debate surrounding genetic engineering to combat diseases like malaria emphasizes the balance between saving lives and the risks and consequences associated with large-scale genetic modifications.
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Recent questions
What causes malaria?
Parasites transmitted by mosquitoes.
How does Zika virus spread?
Through mosquitoes, causing birth defects.
What is CRISPR technology used for?
Genetic engineering to create disease-resistant mosquitoes.
How does gene drive work in mosquitoes?
Ensures engineered gene dominance in populations.
What are the ethical concerns of genetic modification?
Risks and implications of large-scale genetic engineering.
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Summary
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"CRISPR Mosquitoes: Eradicating Malaria with Gene Drive"
- Malaria, caused by Plasmodia parasites transmitted by mosquitoes, is a deadly disease with severe symptoms like high fever, convulsions, and potential death if it breaches the blood-brain barrier.
- The Zika virus, also carried by mosquitoes, causes birth defects and spread rapidly in 2015, highlighting the mosquito's role as a perfect carrier for diseases.
- Genetic engineering using CRISPR technology has enabled the creation of mosquitoes immune to malaria by adding an antibody gene targeting Plasmodium, potentially eradicating the disease.
- The gene drive method ensures that the engineered gene becomes dominant in mosquito populations, with 99.5% of offspring carrying the anti-malaria edit, offering a rapid solution to combat the disease.
- While concerns exist about the ethical implications and potential risks of genetic modification on a large scale, the urgency to save lives from diseases like malaria prompts a debate on the responsible use of this technology.
