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750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

bbc.com

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Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#141

Post by mattmanser »

niea_11 wrote: post #135
abricot wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How exactly would they inherit the genes if it causes sterility?

Sterility is just one example of gene modification. A harmful modification that doesn't cause sterility will propagate across generations if the indivuals are able to reproduce. For example a scenario where we see the symptoms but we don't know that they are caused by a gene modification. And where individuals are still able to live and have children. And I'm not saying that the tech is bad. I'm sure that people can…

That's not how evolution works.

If it's harmful, it will get selected against, and will disappear rather rapidly.

There's a reason why they need to release 750 million genetically modified mosquitos, and not just 1.

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#142

Post by nelsontodd »

mattmanser wrote: post #141
niea_11 wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sterility is just one example of gene modification. A harmful modification that doesn't cause sterility will propagate across generations if the indivuals are able to reproduce. For example a scenario where we see the symptoms but we don't know that they are caused by a gene modification. And where individuals are still able to live and have children. And I'm not saying that the tech is bad. I'm sure that people can…

That's not how evolution works. If it's harmful, it will get selected against, and will disappear rather rapidly. There's a reason why they need to release 750 million genetically modified mosquitos, and not just 1.

Well i’d say the inability to understand probability is a harmful trait but you’re clearly still here and might even have kids. And everyone with asthma, type 1 diabetes, and a tiny dick would like a word with you. Idiot

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#143

Post by thatguy0900 »

mattmanser wrote: post #141
niea_11 wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sterility is just one example of gene modification. A harmful modification that doesn't cause sterility will propagate across generations if the indivuals are able to reproduce. For example a scenario where we see the symptoms but we don't know that they are caused by a gene modification. And where individuals are still able to live and have children. And I'm not saying that the tech is bad. I'm sure that people can…

That's not how evolution works. If it's harmful, it will get selected against, and will disappear rather rapidly. There's a reason why they need to release 750 million genetically modified mosquitos, and not just 1.

Does evolution in that manner really apply to humans anymore? I'm basically blind without glasses and I still get to have kids, probably would have died as a useless child in caveman days Edit: I'm downvoted but I'm curious why. It seems to me that modern medicine has eliminated large parts of natural selection for humans. Is that not the case?

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#144

Post by brixon »

mattmanser wrote: post #141
niea_11 wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sterility is just one example of gene modification. A harmful modification that doesn't cause sterility will propagate across generations if the indivuals are able to reproduce. For example a scenario where we see the symptoms but we don't know that they are caused by a gene modification. And where individuals are still able to live and have children. And I'm not saying that the tech is bad. I'm sure that people can…

That's not how evolution works. If it's harmful, it will get selected against, and will disappear rather rapidly. There's a reason why they need to release 750 million genetically modified mosquitos, and not just 1.

evolution and rapidly don't go together.

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#145

Post by mattmanser »

brixon wrote: post #144
mattmanser wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not how evolution works. If it's harmful, it will get selected against, and will disappear rather rapidly. There's a reason why they need to release 750 million genetically modified mosquitos, and not just 1.

evolution and rapidly don't go together.

Rapidly in evolutionary terms.

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#146

Post by mattmanser »

nelsontodd wrote: post #142
mattmanser wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not how evolution works. If it's harmful, it will get selected against, and will disappear rather rapidly. There's a reason why they need to release 750 million genetically modified mosquitos, and not just 1.

Well i’d say the inability to understand probability is a harmful trait but you’re clearly still here and might even have kids. And everyone with asthma, type 1 diabetes, and a tiny dick would like a word with you. Idiot

I'm sorry, it must be tough having those three conditions, but unfortunately that has little to do with what we're discussing.

With 6 billion people in the world today, even if our nefarious post-doc somehow gene-spliced 100 people with a 100% probability transmit of a "bad" recessive gene, it would take so many generations for any effect to be felt.

By then, we can assume, it would be trivial to reverse the "damage" caused. Hence the eye-rolling at the idea that one post-doc could be any serious threat.

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#147

Post by khaki54 »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #131
MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #120

2016: NNT warns about tail risks of GMOs https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/770966228965916672?s=20 2019: As predicted, the Genetically Modified Mosquito project has gone wrong with "unforeseen outcomes" https://twitter.com/nntaleb/status/1172864041016090624?s=20 Sadly this won't stop until there is a Chernobyl-level accident.

Wasn't that retracted? It was speculation, not science. And in fact it didn't happen.

Yes of course it was retracted. The basis was "you just increased genetic diversity and therefore increased the strength of the population"

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#148

Post by sizzle »

reedf1 wrote: post #86
Fwirt wrote: post #15

Whenever this comes up I always find it interesting that nobody comments on the now 60-year ongoing program that eradicated the screwworm fly from the US by doing pretty much the same thing: releasing millions of genetically altered (sterilized by radiation!) screwworms that mate with the native population. I have no comment on the positive or negative outcomes of the environmental modifications that both programs ca…

I briefly worked in a leading Biology lab as an undergrad - and this sort of work came up. Genetic modification considered alone is not scary. Gene drives designed for sterilization on the other hand - are. I was given a long explanation about how gene drives worked and was filled with mild existential terror at how easy it would be to replace "mosquito" with "human". I knew many biologists capable of performing thes…

Wouldn't this be a problem that would not surface in our lifetime if it affects future births and the professor wouldn't be around to see the end result?

Re: 750M genetically modified mosquitoes to be released in Florida

#149

Post by Dylan16807 »

yowlingcat wrote: post #130
CGamesPlay wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And then sell it, so only the wealthy can reproduce!

Why do I get the sinking feeling that this will be commercialized "first as tragedy, then as farce"

I have to admit I don't really see the plan here.

Mad geneticist injects 1000 people with a gene.

50 years later, 7500 people have to pay for the fix! The profits!

And that's ignoring the failure rate of the initial shot.

This is a worse return on investment than a maniacal scheme to infect people directly, and then 1:1 charge them for a cure.

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