The video discusses the potential use of genetic engineering to combat the mosquito, a deadly predator responsible for the transmission of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. The mosquito is a perfect carrier for human diseases, having been around for at least 200 million years. It's estimated that a single mosquito can lay up to 300 eggs at a time, making them practically impossible to eradicate.
The video highlights the use of CRISPR, a revolutionary technology that allows for large-scale changes to entire species by altering their genetic information. Scientists have successfully created a strain of mosquitoes that are immune to the malaria parasite by adding a new antibody gene that specifically targets Plasmodium. However, simply changing genetic information is not enough; the edits would only be inherited by half the offspring.
To overcome this, a genetic engineering method called the gene Drive is used. This method forces the new gene to become dominant in the following generations, overpowering the old gene almost completely. As a result, 99.5% of all the engineered mosquitoes' offspring will carry the anti-malaria edit.
If enough engineered mosquitoes are released into the wild to mate with normal mosquitoes, the malaria-blocking genes would spread extremely quickly, making Plasmodium lose its home base. The video suggests that this change could be so fast that the parasite could not adapt in time, potentially causing malaria to virtually disappear.
However, there are concerns about the use of CRISPR editing. While the risk might be acceptable in the case of malaria, there could be unwanted consequences if not done correctly. There is still much debate about the ethics and potential risks of using this technology. The video ends with a call to action, asking viewers to consider the potential benefits and risks of this technology.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In 2015, hundreds of millions of people were infected with malaria, and almost half a million people died.
2. Malaria is caused by a group of microorganisms called plasmodia, which are parasites that rely on mosquitoes.
3. The malaria parasite has a single-cell structure and enters the human body through an insect bite.
4. The parasite multiplies inside the liver cells and then enters the bloodstream, where it attacks red blood cells.
5. The parasite can cause flu-like symptoms, including high fever, sweats, and chills, as well as convulsions, headaches, and vomiting.
6. If malaria breaches the blood-brain barrier, it can cause coma, neurological damage, or death.
7. Mosquitoes have been around for at least 200 million years and are practically impossible to eradicate.
8. A single mosquito can lay up to 300 eggs at a time.
9. Scientists have created a strain of mosquitoes that are immune to the malaria parasite using genetic engineering.
10. The gene drive method can force the new gene to become dominant in the following generations, overpowering the old gene.
11. Releasing enough engineered mosquitoes into the wild to mate with normal mosquitoes could spread the malaria-blocking genes quickly.
12. The malaria-blocking genes would become a permanent feature of the mosquito population, potentially eliminating malaria.
13. Half a million children are killed by malaria every year.
14. CRISPR editing is barely four years old, and until recently, it was not possible to make fast and large-scale changes to entire species.
15. There are valid concerns about the unintended consequences of editing the genetic code of a free-living organism on a large scale.
16. The genetic modification used to create the malaria-resistant mosquitoes only changes a very specific part of the genome.
17. The worst-case scenario for the genetic modification is that it might not work or that the parasite adapts in a negative way.
18. Around 1000 children die from malaria every day.