A “death mechanism” built into the insects is meant to prevent viable female offspring resulting from the mating, according to the British biotech company conducting the trial.
British biotech company Oxitec said its release of GMO aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the Cayman Islands reduced the naturally occurring mosquito population by 62 percent in the project area. Emails reveal Cayman officials disputed that figure.
British biotech firm Oxitec is looking at 12 sites throughout the Keys to release millions of genetically modified mosquitoes, which are designed to eliminate most of the local population of Zika-spreading aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
