Geneticexperts.org. NAS report on gene drives recommends field trials but not environmental release.6/8/2016 Geneticexperts.org. NAS report on gene drives recommends field trials but not environmental release. pdf
Professor Akbari said this about gene drive recommendations: Dr. Omar Akbari, Assistant Professor of Entomology, University of California, Riverside (webpage): Expertise: Genetics and physiology of mosquitoes, genetic control technologies for limiting mosquito-borne diseases “The NAS report does a commendable job at overviewing the technologies and identifying the knowledge gaps and barriers that will be important to address before any gene drive approach can be tested and utilized in the environment. “As they conclude, and I agree, the potential applications of gene drives are quite exciting, however, the science is still premature and there are far too many unanswered questions to justify the release of a gene drive beyond the laboratory or contained field trials. Therefore, the committee urges caution until we understand better the ethical, regulatory, scientific, social and environmental consequences of unleashing gene drive containing organisms freely into the environment. “To address these issues, the committee recommends that phased field testing, robust ecological risk assessments, and public engagement will be essential components for moving any gene drive from the laboratory to the field, and I generally agree with these recommendations. The committee also points out that regulation of gene drives will likely fall under the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology. However, the federal agencies included in the current Coordinated Framework (FDA, USDA, EPA), do not have clear lines of authority over the potential applications of gene drive research. “This issue of who will govern a technology that has no boundaries and can persist in the environment long-term will be very important address as this technology develops further in various species. Overall, this is a highly complex issue and the committee’s recommendations for a cautionary, collaborative, and multi-disciplinary, approach to future research and governance of gene drives is a good one.”
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The Huffington Post. What Parents And Pregnant Women Need To Know About Zika Protection. pdf
Professor Akbari on Deet being the most effective repellent for mosquitoes bites: "DEET is the oldest option. It was produced by the military and has been on the market since the gold standard...It has gone through the most tests." UCR Today. Exploiting Male-Killing Bacteria to Control Insects. pdf
Professor Akbari on using male-killing bacteria to control insects: “Understanding the molecular mechanisms of how this bacterium can bias sex ratios of insects could have downstream implications in other insects and these mechanisms could potentially be exploited to control insect species in the future.” Food Chain Radio. Should we release GMO mosquitoes to fight Zika? pdf
Professor Akbari on the reasoning behind releasing GMO mosquitoes to fight Zika: "Though small, and seemingly insignificant, mosquitos are among the most dangerous creatures on earth. They are the primary vectors for major diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever and Zika, which infect hundreds of millions of people throughout the world, killing millions every year." The Huffington Post. Here's What You Need To Know About GMO Mosquitos And Zika Virus. pdf
Professor Akbari on eliminating Aedes aegypti and its effect on the environment: “Aedes is generally an invasive species, so removing an invasive species shouldn’t have any negative ecological implications in terms of the environment,” Courthouse News Service. Modified Mosquitoes OK'd by FDA for Zika Fight. pdf
Professor Akbari on the efficiency of releasing massive amounts of genetically modified mosquitoes: "The only limitation of that approach is that it requires what I call an inundation, continuous release, every generation, of a large number of these males, up to 20 times the population size. As you can imagine, that's a significant undertaking and requires a huge effort." UCR Today. Who Says? pdf
Professor Akbari on Deet being the most effective repellent for mosquitoes bites: "DEET is the oldest option. It was produced by the military and has been on the market since the gold standard...It has gone through the most tests." CNN. Stopping Zika: Here come the mutant mosquitoes. pdf
Professor Akbari on gene drive: "[Gene drive's] forcing those [helpful] genes into the population. Instead of a gene being transferred to 50% of the offspring, now it can transfer to 99%, maybe even 100% of their progeny." “Zika virus is extremely worrisome because of the widespread distribution of the mosquito species that is responsible for transmitting the virus,” Akbari said. “To prevent further cases, wide-scale vector control measures should be undertaken, in addition to developing new control measures.”
UCR Today. Zika Virus Experts Available for Interviews. pdf |
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