Release of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Approved
On May 1, the EPA cleared the request to release genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. On June 17, Oxitec, the creator of these mosquitoes, received the state’s approval. This is not science fiction! Genetically modified mosquitoes are a-go in the Florida Keys, a hotbed for the Aedes aegypti mosquito population, ground zero for potential mosquito-borne illnesses in the United States. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the carrier of West Nile Virus, the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the country. Aside from West Nile, this nasty creature is responsible for other illnesses, such as Zika virus, chikungunya, and dengue fever. What are genetically modified mosquitoes exactly?