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CRISPR-based Method Could Check Crop Pests |
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Drosophila suzukii is an invasive insect pest that poses a threat to agricultural yields, particularly of fruits such as berries, cherries, plums, and grapes, in western countries. An article recently published in GEN Biotechnology reports the development of a programmable CRISPR-based method that could potentially replace fertile male D. suzukii with sterile counterparts, and safely curb this pest population.
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"It's Time to Bite Back Against Mosquitoes" |
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British doctor Ronald Ross discovered that female mosquitoes transmitted malaria to humans more than a hundred years ago. Today, millions of lives are still lost due to malaria and the mosquitoes that spread it. Since 2000, global partnerships have saved more than 10.6 million lives from malaria. However, progress has recently been stalled in malaria-burdened countries, with 627,000 malaria deaths recorded in 2020, mostly among African children under five years of age.
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Experts Weigh in on the Eradication of Mosquitoes that Transmit Deadly Diseases |
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Mosquitoes are the most dangerous animals, according to experts. Every year, they cause more than 700,000 deaths worldwide by transmitting parasites and diseases like malaria. Malaria alone is responsible for about 80% of mosquito-related fatalities, and most of their victims are children under five who live in Africa.
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Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10. |
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