|
|
Standing at the gateway to the world of biotechnologyThe mosquito has caused man more discomfort, disease and death than any other insect. Mosquitoes are the vector for several diseases; the most deadly and widespread is malaria, which kills 1 million people worldwide every year. The link from insect to disease has been known for a long time. It was discovered by Dr. Walter Reed during the Cuban campaign of Teddy Roosevelt at the beginning of the 20th century. We have greatly reduced the numbers of mosquitoes by spraying standing water with oil to kill the larvae and by using DDT against the adult insects. But now, scientists at the University of Arizona have used biotechnology to come up with another strategy. This one is going to show us just how brave we are in stepping into the new world of genetic manipulation. According to an article in Newsweek magazine (Aug. 9, 2010), scientists at the University of Arizona have re-engineered the mosquito by altering its DNA. The result is an insect that is totally resistant to malaria and has a shorter life cycle so that they prevent the growth of malarial parasites. In layman's language: This new mosquito can't spread malaria. However, to put the technology into practice, the scientists need to make these mosquitoes stronger than their wild counterparts so they have an evolutionary edge and can force out the native species. Welcome to the front gate of the world of biotechnology possibilities. Did we see this coming when the gene of a firefly caused a tobacco plant to glow in the dark? Did we anticipate that decoding the genetic makeup of a fruit fly would lead to this? We are in an era in which abstract technologies are purposefully aimed to create an outcome that amazes everyone. We are truly "unlocking" a new universe that has great possibilities for human health and welfare, but to do so we will have to change the environment. The real human question is how brave we are in using this technology, now that we have it. The first response to the new mosquito is "Whoa, we are playing God!" Friends of the Earth are throwing themselves in front of the truck in an effort to stop any forward movement of this scientific experiment. "We don't know the long-term effects," is the scream that comes from the environmental activists. They, however, don't live in tropical jungles or Central American swamps. They don't cover their children with mosquito netting each night and hope that they can keep malaria away from their babies. On the other side of this technology are entomologists who say the benefits will outweigh the risks. The scientists insist that the only thing they've changed is the mosquito's ability to transmit malaria. Do we trust them to release the new bug into the environment? More importantly, do we trust the political leaders who would ultimately approve such a decision? I remember when scientists offered a solution to the screwworm fly that laid its eggs in any open wound of livestock and caused millions of dollars in losses. The solution was to radiate the male flies and sterilize them before they were released into the environment. That would be met with great apprehension today, but in the 1960s it was a solution to a problem and it worked. The female fly mates once, and when she mated with a sterile male, the species was self-limiting. The economic losses were eliminated and the environment was not changed. Would the introduction of a new mosquito be as simple and productive? The answer is probably going to be half a world away and made by those who are in malaria-prone countries. The likelihood of possessing a breakthrough technology and not using it is low. The reason this news of a biotech mosquito is so important is that it requires us to make choices. It will face religious and political scrutiny. Science will be distorted by both to reinforce a position, but the "genie out of the bottle" scenario will prevail. Mankind marches ahead. We won't hold back new ideas and new technology forever. Some discoveries will play out and disappear, but others will advance. As long as the human mind can plan and dream, there will be new ideas. The advancement of biotechnology, in a short 30 years, gives an indication of how far science can go in one generation or one lifetime. The problem for society is that there are no absolutes and no guarantees of success. It can be argued that if we aren't moving forward, we are moving backward. There remains great desire to improve the human condition, but there is also great fear of doing harm. With the tools of biotechnology, we have the key to unlock the gate and enter a world that can benefit us all. May we also possess enough wisdom to navigate the passage. Editor's Note: Ken Root is an independent agricultural journalist. He was named the 2009 Farm Broadcaster of the Year and was the 2008 winner of the Oscar in Agriculture. He is an Oklahoma native and an experienced print, radio and television journalist. He has spent the last five years as Lead Farm Broadcaster at WHO Radio in¬ Des Moines, Iowa. He and his wife Gail have two adult children and two grandchildren.
1
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
