CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Outdoor caged trials to demonstrate the efficiency of genetically modified mosquitoes to suppress wild female Aedes aegypti mosquito populations that transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika were launched on January 23 in Dawalwadi, Badnapur, in Maharashtra’s Jalna district.

Detailed explanation-2: -GM mosquitoes for disease outbreak control Releasing GM mosquitoes over several months can reduce the number of a specific mosquito species, such as Ae. aegypti. Reducing numbers of mosquitoes that can spread germs can help reduce the chance of an outbreak starting.

Detailed explanation-3: -A potential risk for individuals and communities is that the genetic modification might not work as intended and could theoretically increase the prevalence of some types of mosquito-borne diseases. For example, a genetic modification might promote malaria resistance but increase yellow fever susceptibility.

Detailed explanation-4: -Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Stunt Malaria Parasite Growth, Prevent Transmission. Scientists led by researchers from the Transmission:Zero team at Imperial College London have engineered mosquitoes that slow the growth of malaria-causing parasites in their guts, and prevent transmission of the disease to humans.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Environmental Protection Agency has cleared the release of 2.4 billion genetically-modified mosquitoes in California and Florida.