Genetically Engineered Moth to Suppress Pest Population

Feb-01-20 The diamondback moth is mostly resistant to insecticides and results in more than $5 billion in crop losses each year.

Researchers at Oxitec have now released a strain of genetically engineered diamondback moths that could suppress the pest population in a sustainable way.

When the altered male moths mate with wild females, the female offspring die, while male offspring survive and continue to mate until the population is reduced.

Since the moths do not mate with other species, the technology is species-specific and does not affect other organisms.

It is also self-limiting as the gene disappears from the environment after a few generations.

More Info about this Invention:

[TECHNOLOGYNETWORKS.COM]
[OXITEC.COM]

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