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Ethical dilemma: Should we get rid of mosquitoes? - Talya Hackett

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2,631 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

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Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths every year than any other animal, but very few of the 3,500 mosquito species actually transmit deadly diseases to humans. Scientists have been conducting experiments using engineered technologies called gene drives that could theoretically get rid of the most lethal mosquitoes. So, should we eradicate these pesky insects? Talya Hackett investigates.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Do you want to learn more about gene drive mosquitoes and the potential consequences to their release? You can follow the ongoing research by Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium working on exactly this, and also explore factsheets and articles about these topics and beyond. If you’re curious about how scientists are using DNA to research to potential consequences to suppressing the population of mosquitoes that transmit the malaria plasmodium, check out this article and video. And to learn more about mosquitoes, malaria, and developing new tools to control them both, you can watch this TED talk and this Grand Challenges talk

And if you just want to have a bit of fun, read through this comic and have a go at this colouring book.

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Meet The Creators

Educator
Talya Hackett
Director
Luísa Holanda, Hype CG
Narrator
Bethany Cutmore-Scott
Storyboard Artist
Luísa Holanda
Animator
Murilo Jardim
Art Director
Luísa Holanda
Music
Gabriel Maia
Sound Designer
Gabriel Maia
Director of Production
Gerta Xhelo
Producer
Anna Bechtol
Associate Producer
Abdallah Ewis
Editorial Director
Alex Rosenthal
Editorial Producer
Cella Wright
Script Editor
Emma Bryce
Fact-Checker
Paige Downie

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