Mosquitoes are carriers of many diseases, such as yellow fever virus, West Nile virus and malaria. One potential strategy for managing the transmission of diseases from mosquitoes to humans is genetic modification, in which the introduction of transgenes could allow mosquito populations to be controlled, suppressed or altered to reduce the possibility of transmission. However, any genetic modification strategy will require that great precautions be taken to prevent the unintentional, permanent alteration of wild populations. Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Research have now developed a method that would allow temporary genetic modifications in mosquitoes to eliminate themselves over generations, ensuring that gene modification strategies can be tested safely and responsibly.
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