First thing that comes to mind would be “it is not possible”. But it is actually true as reported in the daily mail news. US scientists have engineered a mosquito which cannot be infected by the parasite (plasmodium, a one celled parasite). Series of laboratory tests also shows that, it has a greater chance of survival.
It is believed that the engineered mosquito (it is known as the GM variety), which outlives its unmodified rivals, will dominate in the wild and prevent the spread of the deadly parasite.
Though a senior research fellow in microbiology at the University of Bath Dr. Mark Enwright welcomed the promising research, but he feared the unknown consequences when this engineered mosquitoes are released into the wild.
The research team was led by Dr. Mauro Marelli and their finding was reported in the journal proceedings of the natural Academy of sciences. Adding to their findings, the rate of survival of the genetically engineered mosquito surpasses that of the unmodified ones.
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