Is releasing millions of sterile mosquitoes a good idea?
Alphabet's Verily division is seeking government approval to release millions of sterile male mosquitoes in California and Florida to suppress disease-carrying populations. The strategy, which has been tested in Australia, aims to reduce the spread of viruses like Zika and dengue by preventing viable offspring.
Why it matters
This represents a significant intersection of biotechnology and public health, raising questions about the safety and efficacy of large-scale genetic interventions in ecosystems.
<p>In the United States, Google’s (now Alphabet) Debug initiative has asked the federal government for permission to release up to 32 million sterilised male mosquitoes in California and Florida.</p> <p><b>By Nigel Beebe for The Conversation</b></p> <p>Male mosquitoes don’t bite or carry disease. The hope is these millions of male mosquitoes will mate with disease-carrying females, the eggs won’t hatch, and mosquito numbers will fall.</p> <p>Unsurprisingly, the US public has questions about the plan, including whether the release is safe and will work at scale, and what happens afterwards.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in