How Genetic Engineering is Used in Pest Control
Genetic engineering is a tool for reducing pest populations by introducing traits that suppress or reduce the numerical size of a target population. These traits may include reduced fitness, reduced vector competence, and decreased transmission of one or more pathogens. In pest control, a novel genetic trait called lethality can be used to target adult female mosquitoes. Adult females are harmful because they bite and transmit disease. Juvenile pest insects are not as dangerous because they do not bite, but they do cause a great deal of damage to crops and other plants. Reduced Fitness Traits Aim To Reduce The Numerical Size Of The Target Population A genetically engineered pest may have reduced fitness traits or have other features that decrease its fitness. These traits can reduce the number of…