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Sep 6, 2016
Genetically modified bugs are great, but GMO food still scares us. Here’s why
When the news started to spread about a plan to release genetically engineered mosquitoes in the Florida Keys, it seemed laughable. The idea was to release hordes of engineered male mosquitoes that would mate with the
disease-carrying females and cause them to produce nonviable eggs. The average Facebook post on this was something like: “LOL, you’ve got to be kidding me.”
I don’t see that reaction much anymore. A poll out this week found that
60 percent of Florida residents support tweaking mosquitoes’ genes to fight diseases while 30 percent are opposed. This isn’t statistical noise:
Polls are consistently
finding that
big majorities of Americans
support the idea. Conventional wisdom has been flipped on its head. Disdain has morphed into support.
Read the article.