Back to All Media

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.