Donald Trump: are you talking about me because I'll sue if you're talking about me!
Well, Donnie, seein' as we're talking about flies here, you're welcome to make like one and buzz the fuck off.
Phys.org: Insecticide-resistant flies 'rubbish' at courting females
The much beloved Drosophila, known deep in the hearts of geneticists everywhere:
Drosophila sp fly.
Credit: Muhammad Mahdi Karim / Wikipedia. GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
Scientists have found that the single genetic change which protects the flies from the pesticide DDT also makes males smaller, less aggressive and "rubbish" at courting females.
Resistant males are also more prone to "decamping" - the technical term for giving up midway through a mating attempt.
The University of Exeter researchers were "astounded" that a single allele (a different version of the same gene) could have such a dramatic impact.
- PO
Ed: why protect the fly from DDT?
That's not the point, mate. In researching the function of the allele, they find it does all these other, highly-desirable things as well. When you interfere with the bug's reproduction, you need less or maybe no pesticides to control them.
Ed: this screws with the Great Circle Life. We hate fruit flies but something besides other fruit flies loves them.
That's probably not a problem, mate, since it's extremely unlikely for the allele to be reproduced in the wild specifically due to the effect it has on reducing courtship abilities to rubbish. It may get out but there's almost no chance it could dominate.
This is the same type of approach as with mosquito control in Florida but that one was sophisticated in a different way since reproduction could continue but the progeny would all be sterile. Due to that fact, there's no chance the allele(s) could dominate for that either.
Given the effect we see pesticides having on bees, just maybe this GMO bug approach shouldn't remain so much anathema to people as a non-poisonous / non-destructive solution.
Well, Donnie, seein' as we're talking about flies here, you're welcome to make like one and buzz the fuck off.
Phys.org: Insecticide-resistant flies 'rubbish' at courting females
The much beloved Drosophila, known deep in the hearts of geneticists everywhere:
Drosophila sp fly.
Credit: Muhammad Mahdi Karim / Wikipedia. GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
Scientists have found that the single genetic change which protects the flies from the pesticide DDT also makes males smaller, less aggressive and "rubbish" at courting females.
Resistant males are also more prone to "decamping" - the technical term for giving up midway through a mating attempt.
The University of Exeter researchers were "astounded" that a single allele (a different version of the same gene) could have such a dramatic impact.
- PO
Ed: why protect the fly from DDT?
That's not the point, mate. In researching the function of the allele, they find it does all these other, highly-desirable things as well. When you interfere with the bug's reproduction, you need less or maybe no pesticides to control them.
Ed: this screws with the Great Circle Life. We hate fruit flies but something besides other fruit flies loves them.
That's probably not a problem, mate, since it's extremely unlikely for the allele to be reproduced in the wild specifically due to the effect it has on reducing courtship abilities to rubbish. It may get out but there's almost no chance it could dominate.
This is the same type of approach as with mosquito control in Florida but that one was sophisticated in a different way since reproduction could continue but the progeny would all be sterile. Due to that fact, there's no chance the allele(s) could dominate for that either.
Given the effect we see pesticides having on bees, just maybe this GMO bug approach shouldn't remain so much anathema to people as a non-poisonous / non-destructive solution.
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