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| in which we live. The
Scientists are trying to genetically modify the world 1 yare
| ification. 「or exa
even_trying to wipe out _ diseases Vvla genetlc modifica mple,
| laria parasites.
researchers have tried to engineer mosquitoes to kill ma bp 5
ito. Whent i
malaria parasite is carried by the female Anopheles mosquito ransmitted
toa human, the parasite travels first to the liver and then On tothe bloodstream,
where 懼reproduces and destroys red blood cells. An estimated 250 million people
suffer from malaria each year, and about one million die一many Ofthem children,
There are currently no effective or approved malaria VacCineS.
To “kil”_malaria,”scientists are_genetically modifying a bacterium in
mosquitoes so that 止 releases toxic compounds. These combpounds are nmtt
harmfujl to humans orthe mosquito itself, but they do kill off the malaria parasite,
making the mosquijto incapable of infecting humans with malaria.
Despite 了is achievement, scientists are faced With the challenge of giving the
modified mosquitoes a competitive advantage so that they can eventually replate
了he wjld population. Complete blockage of the malaria parasite is Very importamt
s0me ofthe parasites slip through the mechanism, then the next generation Mi
!kely become resistant to 幻 And if that happens, the scientists are back whet
they started,
