Kurt Archer

I recently came across this article snippet from the ecologist magazine in UK. The first thought that came to mind was pure terror. This is an example of how solutions can also have unforseen impacts on our biodiversity and global impact. Sure to some these are cotton eating pests that leave holes in our sweaters, but to other organisms they perform a task that is integral to sustaining life and providing a service to us that we cannot imagine. Put this into context, if somehow these GM insects were to infect bees for example, those small little yellow bugs we are all terrified of, then on th e surface it would be a good thing, but what we sacrifice is a world filled without beautifully polenated flowers. Yes, the service bee’s provide to flowers cannot be so easily copied by technology, and why should it? If extinction of a species, even a pest is a solution to climate change, then I am fearful of what repercussions we will have by blindly ‘experimenting’ with what we call ’solutions’. Which begs the question as to whether not there should be international protocols on such R&D.

GM insects

If the thought of GM pollen spreading on the breeze worries you, then watch out – the latest GM products have wings! In 2009, Oxford based Oxitec intends to become the first company to sell genetically modified insects for large scale release. Oxitec has developed a GM pink bollworm (moth larvae) that it claims will mate with natural bollworms (a cotton pest) and render them sterile. However, Oxitec’s plans don’t stop there. This also looks to be the year when it will proceed with a large scale trial release of genetically modified mosquitos also intended to spread sterility in wild populations.

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