Genetic Engineering and Diseases – Gene Drive & Malaria
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell・2 minutes 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.
Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free
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.
Related videos
AsapSCIENCE
What If We Killed Every Mosquito On Earth?
TED
How To End Malaria Once and for All | Abdoulaye Diabaté | TED
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
Genetic Engineering Will Change Everything Forever – CRISPR
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
Are GMOs Good or Bad? Genetic Engineering & Our Food
space and science
The Genetic Revolution: The Manipulation of Human DNA | Documentary
Summary
00:00
"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.
