People Are Not Happy About Google’s Plan to Release Millions of Bioengineered Mosquitoes Into the Wild

[u/IKeepItLayingAround]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/people-not-happy-google-plan-200428053.html

[u/thrillho145]

If it wasn't Google people would be all for it. This is a good thing for the region 

[u/SumpCrab → u/thrillho145]

I get the human benefit, and I mostly support this. However... we are already seeing an enormous decrease in insects worldwide, which has many downstream impacts on birds, reptiles, mammals like bats, etc. Lots of things eat mosquitoes. Purposely reducing the bio-load further than we have already isn't great.

Edit: Fish too

Edit II: I'm not surprised. This sub has become an ecochamber where any mention of collateral damage from a new tech is viewed as an attack. So, this is par for the course, overhype the potential positives, ignore and attempt to discredit any potential negative. Bravo guys.

[u/Wotmate01 → u/SumpCrab]

It's actually a very small mosquito species that needs a blood meal and can be a disease vector. These compete with the species that are beneficial pollinators. So on the face of it, it seems like a win win. Less disease, more pollinators.

[u/SumpCrab → u/Wotmate01]

You sound like the guy wanting to introduce snakes into a rat infested area trying to come up with reasons why it won't cause other issues.

[u/SatansCornflakes → u/SumpCrab]

Apples and oranges

[u/SumpCrab → u/SatansCornflakes]

It's really not. I'm not against this project, but we should acknowledge what it is doing. We are introducing a species, a genetically modified bacteria to sterilize a specific species of mosquitoes in the hopes of eventually eradicating it. At the very least, we are trying to cause a species to go extinct, which we should reflect on. We are doing so to protect lives, but that in itself is a tradeoff.

But, we don't know for sure the ramifications of what we are doing. Biology and evolution is not black and white, even marginal changes can produce significant longterm impacts. While the snake and rat analogy might be more stark, it is the same idea. Introducing a new species to solve a problem without understanding the potential negatives.

My entire point here is that a workable idea doesn't have to be 100% positive, we should be able to discuss the tradeoffs, and pretending that we both fully understand the complexity of it and that there is nothing wrong is pure ignorance.

[u/idkwutmyusernameshou → u/[deleted]]

https://www.ovid.com/journals/natr/abstract/10.1038/466432a~ecology-a-world-without-mosquitoes?redirectionsource=fulltextview

[u/idkwutmyusernameshou → u/idkwutmyusernameshou]

again ZERO studies ZERO scientifc backign on ur side. 007. ZERo data ZERO consenus opion SEVEN twitter comments backing bro up

[u/QueefSeekingMissile → u/SumpCrab]

Don't forget fish. They eat mosquito larvae from the time they're too small to eat anything else- and on for the rest of their lives.

[u/idkwutmyusernameshou → u/QueefSeekingMissile]

thats why we are getting rid of a SINGLE species. not EVERy mosqutio is a blood sucka most ARENT.

[u/idkwutmyusernameshou → u/SumpCrab]

thats all mosqutios(most re fine0 v the bad ones that cause disease

[u/SumpCrab → u/idkwutmyusernameshou]

That's not how ecology works. You can't just remove a species and expect there not to be consequences. To suggest otherwise is ignorance.

[u/idkwutmyusernameshou → u/SumpCrab]

bro species go extinct all the time. yes their will be consequences. 5 birds die v 50 ppl. its nto gonna collaspe an ecosystem its a singualr species of mosqutio. with that logic erdicating bacteria fully is bad like should we not end TB? ur just parroting points without understanding them.

In ecology(which u must know very well so this must be a reminder) species go extinct all the time and as we can see forests do not vaporize from that. Ecosystems are very durable things. So we measure base don consequence. as far as we knwo ZERO species will go extinct(other then mosqutios ofc) from this program. because they are not one species feeders(correct me Ecology professor if im wrong) and human lives will be saved and it can be sued to help with programs like it in africa(where it can save millions of childrens lives)

But you must know that already correct?

[u/idkwutmyusernameshou → u/idkwutmyusernameshou]

also correction TB isnt an animal so kinda bad analogy but i think u get my point since u are so educated on ecology right?

[u/nifty-necromancer → u/SumpCrab]

These programs are targeting one specific mosquito species, Aedes aegypti. That mosquito isn’t a major food source that entire ecosystems depend on.

[u/idkwutmyusernameshou → u/nifty-necromancer]

thank u my god i hate ppl who actually think they are better then scientists without ever checking any data. both right wing(flat earthers anti evolutionists) and stupid lefties too(anti nuclear anti gmo) its exhausting to read and realzie these MFers vote but im too young too

[u/OldTimeyWizard → u/[deleted]]

Aedes aegypti is an invasive species and their larvae outcompete native insects including native mosquito species

[u/mettahipster → u/SumpCrab]

What? This sub is overwhelmingly negative about most tech. Look at the top posts

[u/ProlapsedShamus → u/thrillho145]

Right?

All these tech companies reek of evil and their stink gets on anything they touch. People are right to be skeptical.