Genetically modified insect

[7][8][9] SIT is a control strategy where male insects are sterilized, usually by irradiation, then released to mate with wild females.

It has been used in the Grand Cayman Islands, Panama, and Brazil to control the mosquito vector of dengue, Ae.

[10][11][12] It is being developed for use in diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella),[13][14] medfly (Ceratitis capitata)[15][16] and olive fly (Bactrocera oleae).

There are plausible routes for resistance genes to develop in the bacteria within the guts of GM-insects fed on tetracycline and from there, to circulate widely in the environment.

Oxitec released its genetically modified in various countries, including Brazil, Grand Cayman, Malaysia, Panama, and the US.

Modified moths can be identified by their red glow under ultraviolet light, caused by a coral transgene.

[29] Opponents claim that the protein made by the synthetic gene could harm non-target organisms that eat the moths.

The creators claim to have tested the gene's protein on mosquitoes, fish, beetles, spiders and parasitoids without observing problems.

They infest a wide range of crops (over 300) including wild fruit, vegetables and nuts, and in the process, cause substantial damage.

She added that the mechanism of lethality was likely to fail in the longer term as the GM flies evolve resistance or breed in sites contaminated with tetracycline which is widely used in agriculture.

The scope of the inquiry is to include questions such as "Would farmers benefit if insects were modified in order to reduce crop pests?