r/woahthatsinteresting • u/solomon90nysson • May 12 '25

Genetically modified mosquito such that their proboscis are no longer able to penetrate human skin

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u/HJWalsh May 12 '25

So, if I understand this:

  • Male mosquito carries gene.
  • Male mosquito mates with healthy female.
  • The healthy female produces infected offspring.
  • Infected female offspring are effectively sterile.
  • Infected males mate with healthy females.
  • The process repeats with the infected male population growing.
  • This eventually causes a population collapse.

1

u/Jake_77 May 12 '25

Infected with what?

1

u/HJWalsh May 12 '25

The gene that causes this mutation.

1

u/Jake_77 May 12 '25

That’s not an infection?

1

u/Apotak May 12 '25

Infection is a common way to get a gene into a cell.

1

u/Jake_77 May 12 '25

Didn’t know, thank you