Which species would you get rid of? | Ada, Ep. 5

Nearly half the world's population is at risk of infection from malaria, a disease carried mostly by mosquitos. The African continent is disproportionately impacted, with 94% of the cases and deaths from the parasite, and 837 of the 3500 species of mosquitos in residence. Mosquitos are becoming resistant to traditional methods of population control, and the costs of repeated interventions have made it difficult to maintain coverage over large geographic areas. The human and financial cost of the malaria public health crisis is large.

Gene drive could increase efficiency and lower costs of utilizing current methods of control, and could potentially stop transmission of the virus totally within generations. Gene drive occurs in nature, whenever a selected trait spreads rapidly through a species via reproduction. Gene drive works by increasing the likelihood that a specific gene will be passed on, a chance that is usually 50% but can grow to 99%. Gene drive does not exist (and cannot be engineered) in viruses or bacteria, since they do not reproduce sexually.

Two main routes are being investigated as a solution to the mosquito population as it relates to gene drive: biasing the sex ratio and causing female infertility. Both routes could plausibly help solve the world's malaria problem, but as discussed in the video, this type of intervention could have unintended consequences. Experts warn that responsible governance must be in place before gene drive on mosquitos is attempted, read on about some of those proposed safety measures here and here.