Genetically modified mosquitoes may soon be released in Florida

In an effort to help eradicate dengue fever and the mosquitoes that spread it, the Florida is seeking federal and state approval to release hundreds of thousands of genetically-modified (GM) mosquitos designed to kill off the natural Aedes aegypti variety throughout Key West, Florida.

Created by U.K.-based insect eradication company Oxitec, the GM mosquitos have been created with an added gene that will automatically kill them, unless they are given the antibiotic tetracycline. When they mate with wild mosquitoes, these GM mosquitoes also pass on this gene to the offspring, which is intended to gradually decrease the population of wild mosquitoes over time.

Of course, it is unknown whether or not the GM mosquitoes will have a detrimental effect on the environment or humans, or how killing of large amounts of mosquitoes will disrupt the life cycles of natural ecosystems.