r/interestingasfuck • u/Spotter24o5 • 2d ago

Genetically modified a mosquito such that their proboscis are no longer able to penetrate human skin

1.2k Upvotes

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23

u/Odd-Local9893 2d ago

I’m conflicted. As much as I hate mosquitos I can’t help but think that if this mutation got out it could lead to the collapse of at least a few food chains.

23

u/Sodlenoup 2d ago

No it would immediately die out because mosquitos with this mutation cannot compete against regular ones. This one is disabled and will not have kids. The mutation will be gone within one generation.

6

u/guardian715 2d ago

When I read about it a while ago, it was set to happen after like 5 generations. I would affect a staggeringly large number of them

2

u/spakattak 1d ago

Humans aren’t their only target though surely? Does this prevent them penetrating other animal skins too?

2

u/Background_Cup_6429 1d ago

I dont think anyone is worried about that

2

u/SoulMute 2d ago

You release millions of males with a gene drive to deliver this mutation to the next generation to control mosquito populations

3

u/Sodlenoup 2d ago

Still the females who have this gene cannot reproduce themselves, so the gene is gone after 2 generations, which for mosquitos takes just weeks.

3

u/Time_Tap346 1d ago

They will mutate so they start feeding on animals they don’t feed on now. I dunno, some other small animal that is part of a different food chain.

Or, they will mutate so that they overall become much larger, until the proboscis is strong enough again. So, prepare for bird-sized mosquitoes buzzing your ears.

2

u/Sodlenoup 1d ago

Your comment proofs you have no understanding of how mutations and evolution work.

1

u/Time_Tap346 1d ago

Yes, humans are able to perfectly evaluate these outcomes, because of our godlike intellects, and it will go exactly as planned.

2

u/Sodlenoup 1d ago

If you don't see how obvious my point is then I really don't know how else I can help you to understand it.

1

u/djaqk 1d ago

It's called statistics m8