Coming This Summer, Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

If we can take on COVID-19, a shut down economy, Murder Hornets, the return of the Killer Bees, and riots, then let's just toss in some Genetically Modified Mosquitoes. 

Bring - it ----- ON!

The plan is to introduce them this summer. But, actually, if you are picturing something from a sci-fi horror movie, like the rest of 2020 has been, this is a little different.

Oxitec, a bio-tec company, has received an experimental use permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to release millions of these modified mosquitoes, weekly, for two years in Florida and Texas.

These altered mosquitoes carry a "lethal gene." The hope is that these modified ones, mating with the wild ones, will collapse the wild population.

This is important because these little pests are not just, well, pesty, but they are considered the world's deadliest animal. Just a few of the diseases they carry include Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, and West Nile virus.

But, as you might imagine, Scientists Can't Agree on Whether Genetically Modified-Mosquito Experiment Went Horribly Wrong.

Wait - what? Then why do it?

Back in 2019 a  group of researchers not involved with Oxitec raised questions. It found  that some of the offspring had survived and were strong enough to reproduce. Like they said in the movie Jurassic Park, "Nature always finds a way."

To be fair, realizing these modified mosquitoes has successfully reduced native mosquito populations in Brazil by up to 85%.

On the one had, I like the idea. On the other hand, modified bug populations is how we got Killer Bees. 

But - it's 2020, so what the hell ---  Bring It ---- ON!