The risks of genetically modified mosquitoes

Around 1 million people die each year of mosquito-borne diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is why mosquitoes are considered one of the deadliest living creatures on the planet—not because they are lethal themselves, but because many of the viruses and parasites they transmit are.

Consider, for example, dengue fever. This mosquito-borne virus is a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children and adults in several countries in Asia and Latin America. In 2016, member states in three of the six WHO regions reported 3.34 million cases.

In the absence of an effective vaccine for dengue fever, Zika fever, chikungunya, and other mosquito-borne diseases, researchers have developed genetic strategies to reduce mosquito populations. One such initiative involves releasing mosquitoes into the wild which are genetically modified to express a lethal gene—a strategy believed to have little impact on the overall DNA of wild populations of mosquitoes.

As an interdisciplinary group of authors, we generally support technologies that can reduce human disease and suffering. However, given our combined expertise in science, governance, and ethics we have concerns that recent decisions to deploy genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes have not been made responsibly.

Genetically modified mosquitoes

The transfer of new genes from GM organisms to wild or domesticated non-GM populations is a key criticism of GM crops such as soybeans and corn. There are concerns that the introduction of GM genes into non-target species could have negative consequences for both human and environmental health.

Oxitec, a company that spun out of research at Oxford University in the early 2000s, developed and trademarked GM “Friendly” mosquitoes, also known as strain OX513A of Aedes aegypti. These male GM mosquitoes have what the company describes as a “self-limiting” gene, which means that...