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Biology-Related Homework Help Genetics and Developmental Biology Topic started by: Carl Mesaros on Mar 24, 2023



Title: Genetic Engineering of Invasive Plants and Insects
Post by: Carl Mesaros on Mar 24, 2023
Dear Biology Community:
      Could we approach the problem of invasive plants and insects this way?
      We could genetically engineer large numbers of the same invasive plant or insect species to be identical to the plants or insects in an infested area with one important difference:  Their gametes are ineffective.  These genetically engineered insects or plants are released into the infested area.  This method is repeated as long as the population dynamics of the infestation make the method necessary.
     The underlying concept behind this idea is based on the method that the United States Department of Agriculture used to eradicate the New World primary screwworm fly  from the Southern United States.  The USDA used ionizing radiation to alter the genetic makeup of the screwworm fly.  Thank you.


                                                                                                                                       Best regards,
                                                                                                                                       Carl Mesaros


Title: Re: Genetic Engineering of Invasive Plants and Insects
Post by: bio_man on Mar 25, 2023
In a situation like this, you'd have the mutant strain mating with both the wildtype and mutant strain.

  • Mutant with mutant: No offspring in generation 1
  • Mutant with wildtype: No offspring in generation 1
  • Wildtype with wildtype: 100% Viable offspring in generation 1.

After 1 generation, the mutant will be eradicated, leaving 100% wildtype in generation 1 and beyond...

Does that make sense?