Ethical dilemma: Should we get rid of mosquitoes? - Talya Hackett

Explore how the technology of gene drives could lead to the eradication of mosquitoes and what that could mean for our ecosystems.
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Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths every year than any other animal, but very few of the 3,500 mosquito species actually transmit deadly diseases to humans. Scientists have been conducting experiments using engineered technologies called gene drives that could theoretically get rid of the most lethal mosquitoes. So, should we eradicate these pesky insects? Talya Hackett investigates.
Lesson by Talya Hackett, directed by Luísa M H Copetti, Hype CG.
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[@cliffordsy4249]

Coffee balls

[@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307]

We are already killing off far more important and special animals and destroying our world the only good thing they do is keep down certain pests like in the undeveloped countries!

[@maribelmenese4845]

Why do humans love to play gods.

[@stevejohnson2053]

​@@maribelmenese4845bcuz mosquitoes can't

[@EmmanuelOnwukwe]

​@@maribelmenese4845self defense is not playing god

Me during winter: This is indeed a complicated problem. We should consider all options carefully. Me during summer: KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!

[@somehistorynerd]

Depends, at least for me, I want to become the Terminator for these damned things

[@derpgamer743]

Damn even got a heart

[@Nah_I_Would_Plummet]

bro i live in semi rural india, my answer is always yes lmao

[@spaghettiwipeawayfaced5963]

Yooo nice pfp!

[@Skye-fu7ys]

tbh at this point I don't give a fu3k but just wanted these things gone forever

[@saumyabhardwaj1408]

I have no ethical dilemma about this: yes

[@antoniothegunexpert5955]

YES

[@mariekom81]

AGREED

[@jacobsilvis2471]

GOOD ANSWER

[@Cool-123]

Agreed!!!

[@Gelstorm2004]

I vote yes too.

[@santiagosenoran1217]

As a mosquito magnet during summer in Buenos Aires I can firmly say my empathy for mosquitoes is absolutely exhausted and I see it as a small sacrifice if getting rid of mosquitoes means the extinction of nine tenths of fauna on earth. In fact while writing this comment I was bitten by a mosquito

[@ciyadhingra5895]

😂😂😂

[@malikaalibdat7079]

Loooooool ikr

[@loonytoons8130]

I was bitten by one while reading this comment. And so, i concur

[@vibhusingh9152]

mosquito magnet🤣🤣

[@kenny3271]

I concur, you guys can blame me. I'm sick of these pest.

[@PrinceTaRiG]

I saw my uncle developing celebral malaria.. he died a week later... if there is a way to simply end these creatures they must just do so without hesitation 😭

[@joekrater3364]

too many armchair ethics "experts" debating the bad effects of destroying mosquitoes. In my opinion they should be sent to the tropics to be bitten by thousands of mosquitoes. That'll teach em😆

[@goldenhorse4823]

​@@joekrater3364 so if people hate sharks and someone says that is no excuse to commit genoice they should have been send to be bitten by sharks?

[@Super-Saiyan-Blue-Gogeta]

@@goldenhorse4823 Yes.

[@hammysan2090]

​@@goldenhorse4823comparing sharks and mosquitoes like this is not logical. Mainly because sharks are only a problem if we are the ones invading their space. In most cases sharks aren't even a threat to humans. Whoever might hate sharks doesn't have to constantly deal with the threat of a shark attack. Mosquitoes on the other hand are invasive pests. Even if you don't bother with them, they will definitely bother you. Last time I checked, sharks don't cause diseases like Malaria or Dengue.

[@snichelsticks8653]

@@goldenhorse4823 a more accurate comparison would be with termites or ants

[@kesler4982]

I live in a tropical state, and mosquitoes are a big problem. you can have hundreds of them in your house at night, and hear a constant loud buzzing everywhere. I ask myself, there is no consequence bad enough to eradicating them other than possibly having more mosquitoes.

[@atlas956]

i think so too. it would affect only a couple of species, but eliminate several of the diseases with the highest body count in our modern world. genetically sterilising these species would probably also be a better option than hoping that medication becomes widely available and affordable. especially since mosquito population will probably keep increasing and even spreading to colder areas due to climate change.

[@kesler4982]

@@atlas956 ​ Don't need to tell me twice. I caught some of their diseases before, and now I attract them like crazy. I actually have to stay fully covered at home and sleep under a mosquito net, it's terrible.

[@wouldyoureturntomonke2452]

mosquitos is our natural enemies, they need to be burned 🔥

[@kesler4982]

@@TheBosama Believe me, I don't stay here because I love the place too much lol

[@WasThisMail]

@@atlas956 issue is it won’t just affect a few species It would have widespread ecological ramifications

[@kaarlows]

My answer before watching: YES! My answer AFTER watching: Heck Yeah!

[@ponderyah]

Same fr

[@global_gossip.2011]

Me too

[@exiled373]

kill em all

[@xofox_studio]

yepp

[@zion3335]

my answer after 3000 years ......YES!!!!

[@ShortFuseFighting]

i hope that one day i'll be able to regale my grandchildren with tales of these "things" we used to have back in my day called "mosquitoes"....and they'll be like "mosq-WHAT?"

[@chaos.n.cosmos]

"Toes of mosqui kids" 😆

[@poro3246]

Are those little creatures that you can find in a mosque? Why are they called that?

[@kazi6343]

Mosquitoes cause so much suffering and death. It would be unethical to let people suffer while we have a solution.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

We do not have a solution

[@BattleSKY8]

My brother died three months ago. Dengue fever. I'm still so heartbroken I cry myself to sleep on random nights. I miss him.

[@thijsvandervoort8261]

I'm sorry for your loss, in due time the good memories will outshine the feelings of loss and sorrow. Stay strong and talk lots with your loved ones.

[@BattleSKY8]

@@thijsvandervoort8261 Thank you for your kind words. It means a lot.

[@yajuvendrasinghrajpurohit7888]

Things will get better eventually .

[@BattleSKY8]

@@yajuvendrasinghrajpurohit7888 yes, but it's hard to hold hope sometimes.

[@xcal99999]

Sorry to hear that but try to stay strong. Time heals the wounds. The scar may remain forever but the pain will decrease with passing time. And your brother will be sad to see you cry so keep his good memories close and try to live the life to the fullest combining his and yours

[@Fallen7Pie]

It's not much of a dilemma anymore. The damage we do trying to control mosquitos every year is insane, removing them from the food chain would be relatively harmless. Every study I've seen on this in the past 10 years has come to that same conclusion

[@jamesconnolly5164]

If we kill them with gene drive we won't need to damage anything with pesticides.

[@lillysmith4040]

Every human made disaster started with us thinking that "there's no harm"

[@seb0rn739]

It still is very much a dilemma! Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@Anhilare]

@@seb0rn739 more disastrous than using general insecticides against them, thereby killing other insects in the process, as is common now?

[@BURGATRON]

Not harmless. The human population would grow and there are already too many of us.

[@-MostHated-]

This should be used on not only the deadly Mosquitoes. It should also be used on bed bugs, Ticks, and any other insect that poses a threat to humans due to their willingness to bite us and subsequently pass on deadly pathogens.

[@sachinraghavan4556]

Their bites aren't gaurunteed to be fatal.

[@ConfusionUwU]

@@sachinraghavan4556 eating expired food isn’t guaranteed to be fatal. You still shouldn’t do it.

[@SadDrifter]

well bed bugs don’t actually carry diseases for humans, kinda why people haven’t been researching a way to exterminate them properly

[@ana-zb7ix]

YES!!! Dengue is so serious. Nearly lost my mom to it and there’s no treatment. Prevention is nearly impossible because you keep your house without still water, but your neighbors don’t. You get infected anyway

[@SevenTheMisgiven]

If you live in a nation where the population can't cooperate then you don't have a government who can implement an effective strategy either anyway.

[@ana-zb7ix]

@@SevenTheMisgiven yes. It’s a very complex issue. People don’t do their part. It’s awful.

[@ldawg7117]

​@@SevenTheMisgiven so basically no Nation on Earth?

[@SevenTheMisgiven]

@@ldawg7117 Where I am from I can come up with a lot of examples. Scandinavia, Japan, Korea.

[@ana-zb7ix]

@@SevenTheMisgiven but those countries don’t have most mosquito-borne diseases, do they? Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti live only on the tropics from what I know. Unless they’ve evolved somehow to live in colder climates, which I think they will do someday and with climate change.

[@omran2507]

yes before watching edit: after watching the answer is still yes

[@monkeybrain2976]

Yes after watching

[@DANtheMAN-_-]

The benefits will always outweigh the cost is this regard.

[@dhpz]

Yes in the middle of watching

[@doob.]

Yes since the early existence of time

[@DadsCigaretteRun]

Don’t need to hear your excuses, destroy them all

[@joanne3713]

I live in west Africa. To not have to fight malaria and swallow anti malaria tabs multiple times every year would be so awesome😭

[@Oogie187]

What infuriates me most about this ethical dilemma is the thought that the people most affected by mosquitoes not having the final say in the matter. Let the widows that have endured restless nights due to the hands of these vermin have a voice, not some naysayer from the northern-hemisphere preaching fairytale

[@bvegannow1936]

Put high quality mosquito traps one per acre, and dont have standing non moving water. Housing and natural habitat can also be provided for predator animals who eat mosquitoes.

[@LoneAW0]

@@Oogie187 if they want a say, they should develop the technology

[@doodoo2065]

@@LoneAW0 The tecnology will affect worldwide, so its something for the world in general to choose

[@nammi895]

Which country, do u have internet access in Africa

[@socialistrepublicofvietnam1500]

As somebody who has spent at least a minute in Vietnam, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WE NEED THIS my sister is a mosquito magnet and can't go outside without getting 10 bites, and my mother got malaria but thankfully survived

[@TonyC-pq7bp]

I'm in Florida this program was implemented few years back. I can tell you one thing mosquito's are 99% gone. It used to be unbearable to go outdoors without being swarmed today I see none at all.

[@stt.9433]

wtf are you on about ? This is about eradicting sub species of mosquittos not the entire species.

[@Xyz_Litty]

This is false information.. Plenty left in Florida

[@TonyC-pq7bp]

@@Xyz_Litty Not in South Florida. Im not sure about other areas but where I’m am we have none.

[@turtleninjavampire]

​@@Xyz_Litty what part of Florida you from ?

[@Xyz_Litty]

@@turtleninjavampire South Florida .. Broward County

[@sunablast]

Can we please just do this already? Imagine how much better life would be in places like Southeast Asia and Florida

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

true. i always dream of sleeping without clothings where i don’t have to prepare for mosquito repellents before every sleep

[@seb0rn739]

Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@siddhartacrowley8759]

@@seb0rn739 We already killed some animal species, so why not mosquitos too? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@imadearadea3417]

Remember that Mao Tse tung once implemented a program to eradicate sparrows population because he believed that sparrows are pests that only eat crop grains. Once the sparrows were eradicated, the locusts population suddenly boomed and destroyed the harvests, contributing the cause of Chinese great famine of 1958 . Who knows how eradicating mosquitos would backfire in some way or other?

[@cher1z4rd]

@@imadearadea3417 while I understand where you're coming from, MZD's order to eradicate sparrows was an uneducated decision, it was included in the "remove four pests campaign" which mosquitoes, rats, flies are also included, but only sparrows were severely affected. Sparrows don't make ppl sick and kill ppl like mosquitoes do. And birds have been a pest since dawn of agriculture, but I doubt normal ppl would go "hmmmm, let's make a species extinct because they make our work hard but they don't actually transfer diseases" During that era, ppl were also encouraged to sell iron to the government, there are cases where ppl melted their perfectly good pot to sell and ended up less than what they've provided. The iron produce were also terrible so it's not surprising that a lot of decisions back then were not well thought of For mosquitoes tho, they caused too much harm to human's health, and they are proposing only to eradicate the species that carry diseases. I'm from Malaysia and dengue is something that we actively worry about if it's too warm and there's too much rain (all the time). My father and sister both had it before and they both ended up in hospital, thank God for them it wasn't lethal, but there are many who are not as lucky. Since they're still testing and are actively thinking about the could be consequences, it's a good sign and hope that there's a outcome that has more positives than negatives

[@dt9327]

My only concern before and after this video is. Why haven't we done this already ?

[@jacobwhkhu]

It's because of the pathetic state of the academic world who likes to overthink and overreact. There is NO DOWNSIDES to the population collapse of all mosquitoes. It's not like there are animals in which their diet is exclusively mosquitoes

[@MetronaJ]

The answer? It's really hard to deliberately kill one specific species that is so wide spread

[@tsrmmercy836]

@@MetronaJ And it gets even harder knowing that life finds a way. One miscalculation could lead to a new generation of surviving mega bugs.

[@neutronenstern.]

It could go off in an unexpected way. Whole ecosystems could get destroyed. It might make everything worse

[@DutchDesires]

I recently read an artice about those mutaded mosquitos in the wild. Apparently researchers have already released some of those mutant mosquitos. However according to that article the mosquitos know when a member of their spicies has mutated and will actively avoid them in their quest to mate.

[@ShivermistGD]

Eventually, they won't find anyone 🙂

[@anubhavpal5782]

Need to be implemented imeediately. Have had malaria loads of times in my childhood till my family moved on to a new location where the mosquitos were less but are still there till day. Unable to sleep at night sometimes due to all that buzzing going on around my ears

[@earthling_parth]

I understand the concerns on the food web, but if we can eradicate mosquitoes with only impacting 2 or 3 species, we should take that risk in my opinion but obviously experts can reach a better risk-assessed position.

[@rvat2003]

Yeah. I mean there's the "immune to the pathogens that cause the diseases" option.

[@earthling_parth]

@@rvat2003 I know but mosquitoes are just too annoying 😅

[@pisces2569]

But what if impacting those 2 or 3 species have huge consequences on the environment? Then it may not be worth the risk

[@cassius5692]

@pices is correct here. Ecosystems are systems in which almost all pieces are in some way connected. Impacting one species may at first only impact those few species that directly rely on them, but then those that rely on those few will be indirectly impacted, then any that relied on those ones will be, and so on. That can in some cases potentially continue until the existing ecosystem collapses, which is why it's crucial to asses the impact of a species before taking action that might affect it's population. It's often very hard to impact just a few species, so when there are other options (like immunity rather than elimination) those are generally the safest thing to pursue. It's also important to consider that humans, especially those in non-industrialized areas, also rely on the ecosystems they live in to at least some degree. So destabilizing them can have consequences on us as well.

[@kikilocket]

Not worth the risk. The food chain and ecosystem are actually extremely vulnerable and removing even one species could have dire consequences. It’s better to remove the disease from the mosquitos rather than the mosquitos.

[@emyvrosales]

The sterile insect technique is already being applied in the continent! In Ecuador it is for Aedes Aegypti, vector of dengue and yellow fever. Cuba, Argentina, etc are on it too since 2020.

[@ceeval21]

Dengue almost killed me for 10 days lol 105 fever in 110 degree weather . how fun was vacation for me

[@ZennExile]

bug nets and essential oil repellent work, and have always worked. There is no reason to try and modify or kill billions of organisms that are a pilar of the foodchain for THOUSANDS of other species.

[@thewingedhussar4188]

From what I heard, mosquito populations quickly bounced back after a quick population drop?

[@sieevansetiawan4792]

@@thewingedhussar4188 In Singapore, yes.

[@zion3335]

GOOD

[@TheDwightMamba]

I have a friend from school that encircled his property with bat-houses. Going over there in summer used to be like donating blood, but now I barely get stuck.

[@quintus920]

These don't seem like ethical problems as much as rhey are merely strategic evaluations. The video does not question whether the end goal should be pursued, but rather discusses the merits of a particular technique in achieving that goal as well as the risks involved.

[@gantagavin]

Ethical dilemma series is something else: a multidisciplinary, intersection, crisscross and whatnot of various subjects beautifully wrapped into a single video.

[@_.nastou._]

You perfectly described it

[@gantagavin]

@@_.nastou._ thank you!

[@dangerfly]

Does the potential consequences make this more of an ethical issue? Mouthwash and hand sanitizers kill microbes so what isn't an ethical dilemma...

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

mosquitoes ≠ ethics. just slap it on sight

[@RoyMatzem]

Theres no dilemma here. 150 different species go extinct per year, and Theres no apocalypse consequence happening. If you really want be cautious(still dont see why but ok), then target only Malaria/Dengue and let the other species fill the void. Stop having fear and Lets save people!

[@johnanhmmiii]

My level of agreement with eradicating deadly mosquitoes after watching the video has gone up to 200%, thank you very much Ted-Ed 😂

[@basiliimakedonas1109]

In the last 10 years mosquitoes in Greece have gotten thrice as large and survive all year round, even if it has 2 weeks of cold and snow outside and neither the stringers insecticides nor repels affect them in the slightest anymore. If you make their population crash this much I'm afraid what kind of semi indestructible monstrosity will emerge from the remaining 1%

[@smitias_8474]

Shame that it wouldn't be so effective with ticks. In my region they carry a variety of life ending diseases. Makes you paranoid every time you have to check for them after visiting a forrest since they are so incredibly small. At least it easy to avoid them completely.

[@Wunderkind04]

A world without mosquitoes would be heaven on Earth, let's be real. Those summer nights without having to worry about them and constantly swatting around would be so much more relaxing. However, they are a big source of food for bats, fish, reptiles/amphibians, etc. Ideally, there would be some way to have them stop targeting humans all together rather than wiping them out, but I doubt there's any way to modify their genes properly for something that specific. As long as we could find a way to fill in the gap that comes from their loss to keep other animals fed, then I say wipe'm out, lol

[@xaayer]

Other mosquitoes would fill the niche.

[@livingwithpetsandplants9539]

So trueee

[@mystic_galaxies9832]

I do believe that experiments were done with genetically modified mosquitoes that do not feed on human blood.

[@seb0rn739]

Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@someoneelse3456]

They aren't the only source of food for these creatures. The world will move on. People are really out here believing that the world is dependent on mosquitoes when really it's the other way round.

[@burnin8able]

this video is framed around getting rid of mosquitoes as a complex ethical question, but the only concrete questions brought up are food web related questions that effectively boil down to logistical concerns. I don't really see asking questions about second and third order effects of a course of action to be ethics questions at all. the real ethical questions come after the consequences have been established and the question then becomes a comparison between action versus inaction and the consequences of both options weighed against one another.

[@TheDreamLeaf]

I thought food web related questions = potentially affecting livelihood / continued existence of animals, plants etc. As well as possibility of giving rise to other harmful species. Not just human logistical concerns?

[@burnin8able]

@@TheDreamLeaf I might have phrased it confusingly, but I don't mean human logistical concerns. I mean the "logistics" of the food web and how it operates as it stands. But my point still stands: questions of "if we do X, will Y happen?" is not an ethical question, it's trying to find out what the consequences of an action will be. the ethical questions come later, when the future consequences are known (for the most part) and the question becomes "if we do X, Y will happen. if we don't, Z will happen. should we do X?"

[@TheDreamLeaf]

@@burnin8able Ahhhh. Totally get you now, and I agree

[@greendsnow]

as if there's no other insects to feed its predators.... what a redundant argument, they're playing with our minds.

[@burnin8able]

@@greendsnow I know you don't want to hear this, but that right there is some SEVERE armchair scientist behavior. feeling out the intricacies of a decision this impactful is hugely important work. I was pointing out how we haven't gotten far enough into the research for the questions being asked to qualify as ethics questions specifically. the questions being asked are not lesser as a result, just of a different nature.

[@alexandernunezmartinez4948]

I live in Santa Cruz, Bolivia the tropical area of my country and right now we are facing an epidemic of DENGUE a type of many mosquito-borne disease, with 2 thousand cases and more than 5 deaths during last two weeks. 😢

[@asheronwindspear552]

My biggest concern would be the wider ecological impactof removing the mosquitoes however if it's only a particular breed then I imagine the population level of less harmful needs will increase and replace their numbers rather than there suddenly being a gap in the food chain.

[@dhpz]

As someone who lives in tropical.. Y E S

[@romella_karmey]

Make them all species extinct I don’t care anymore 😩😭😭😭😭

[@sirnikkel6746]

The question shouldn't be "Should we" It should be *"How can we"*

[@seb0rn739]

The question absolutely is "should we?" Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@Dialga6677]

@@seb0rn739 Yes, we should

[@cymtastique]

@@seb0rn739 Immunity does not mean they can't transmit viruses. Plus, they're already basically immune.

[@seb0rn739]

@@cymtastique They are not immune. They are themselves not affected by the viruses but that doesn't mean they are immune in an immunological sense. The viruses evade the misquitoes immune systems. When I say that we should make mosquitoes immune to these viruses, I mean that we should find a way to make their immune systems act against them.

[@hendrixvirus]

Nothing has caused me more suffering in this world than mosquitoes, i will always say yes

[@qrzone8167]

Around 2-5% of people who have ever lived died to malaria. Environmental effects from eradicating mosquitos would happen but studies are pointing towards them not being catastrophic. I would say it is very much worth it

[@GuyInc0gnit0]

The animations in TED-Ed videos are always top notch, but this one especially! Simple, yet intricate and beautiful!

[@Technoguy3]

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but actually yes.

[@marc21256]

In places where intensive mosquito control techniques were used, we found that mosquitoes do perform pollination, but when they are gone, pollination is largely unaffected (because other insects or mechanisms fill the small gaps left). They are also replaceable in the food chain. So the ecological downside to genocide of all biting mosquitoes is zero, or close to it. The question of whether the gene drive would cross species to other mosquitoes, the mosquito genocides which have been done chemically or mechanically also found that elimination of the entire class of insect didn't have a huge impact. There are generally lots of competing organisms for the small space mosquitoes exist in, so if the entire class was gone, other species would fill in, and no long term effect would be felt. The downsides are relatively small, and it would save many lives.

[@NobleCG]

Love how almost the entire comment section has no dilemma

[@BrendanWoolwine]

One thing I’ve learned is that nature will fill the gaps. It will not destroy the ecosystem. It just may fix itself in a way that isn’t beneficial or even bad for humans

[@defenderofwisdom]

The many forms make nature resilient but just because this resilience exists doesn't mean that we should get rid of the mosquitos. It's just human arrogance. Our ancestors would look back on our barbarity and weep, that we demanded what is just for humanity qua what is unjust for non-humanity. We should be guardians of all life including the mosquito. Ah! As I get older I notice how shittier and shittier scientists and the sciences get.

[@ShirokumaSama]

We extincted so many animals already (intentional or not) and I don't see the world falling apart from it, and these scientists draw the line at mosquito... Like "ayo, wiping species of mosquito out. That eff up!" LOL

[@AntiSocialismo50]

Dont care

[@astar2128]

@@ShirokumaSama I was about to make this same point

[@nedisawegoyogya]

Nature is not a conscious thing

[@ericvulgate]

This is for sure going to happen we should start planning for any consequences.

[@Zavult]

Oh I'm sure some fools will try it eventually and end up in an even worse situation. just like every other time humans have messed with nature like this.

[@PramkLuna]

Mosquitoes are pollinators, which could impact food supply

[@lonestarr1490]

@@Zavult Humans have never before messed with nature _like this._ This is a completely different level. Way more precise, way more quickly, way more deliberate, but also way more conscious than ever before. We're doing our homework this time. But that doesn't prevent the feat from being deliberate eradication.

[@chideraalexanderdex547]

@@lonestarr1490 and what if it's deliberate annihilation? As a Nigerian f em all

[@Zavult]

@@lonestarr1490 every generation since thee industrial revolution thought they were smarter then there forefathers. they thought they had done their homework too and could manipulate nature with out consequence. we all know where that line of thinking has gotten us! The fact that they are even considering it is proof they are infected with the same inherited idiocy!

[@anupamkatiyar9770]

Well, the quotation in the beginning is hilarious yet insightful.

[@timotiusyap8787]

it's my dream since childhood...and they began to realizing it...go my friend! we don't need to apologize to the mosquitoes or something that eats it!!!

[@jaymwansa1280]

As someone who just recovered from malaria, I just want to know how permanent it is 😅

[@EvanBreitbeck]

I live in an area infested with Eastern equine encephalitis and when I was smaller I witnessed a horse from the nearby stable dying within days of getting bit. Unbelievably scary, especially when there is no easy way to be cured if a human is bitten

[@c_jo]

I’ve thought of this since I was a kid. And after 30 years of pondering and thinking hard, I say - YES!!

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

I love the idea, but unintended consequences could be terrifying. "Life finds a way"

[@rickrolling795]

With their high birthrate, I fear that mosquitoes might adopt or even develop resistance to any eradication method. Never underestimate the power of evolution.

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

they still die from being slapped and electrocuted

[@hendrikheim5665]

No, unless a mutation reaccures to prevent male only offspring it wont go away. To explain why, it's how people still have fingers and how blue eyes/gingers/Albinoism etc spread and remained in the gene pool.

[@roberthorvat9347]

Unlikely

[@kizermason]

R u saying life finds away

[@Himom10]

for a second I thought u meant mosquitoes might literally start adopting children xD

[@bbsugarsmurf19]

depends on what eats mosquitoes and what other food sources they have

[@joannexdd5628]

mosquitoes are not a main source of food for any animal

[@erik2602]

@@joannexdd5628 There are quite a few birds, spiders, bats and fish that have mosquitoes as a main food source. (not the only food source though that I'm aware of)

[@joannexdd5628]

@@erik2602 give me the names of these species then

[@lackisbread91]

@@joannexdd5628 Many mosquitoes are polinators

[@isaacsimpson8098]

@@joannexdd5628 if they contributed nothing to the ecosystem they wouldn't be there in the first place. It would be a waste for organisms to not adapt to eat mosquitoes when they aren't even poisonous, and they have to eat, taking blood is only for their offspring but they are pollinators, its possible there are even plants that rely exclusively on mosquitoes to pollinate them. Additionally, don't forget they have a larval stage, its not just birds and other insects that eat them, they can be critical sources of food for fish. You shouldnt be giving out infomation like "mosquitoes are not a main source of food for any animal" when you don't even know this. You know theres a mosquito fish(litterally called mosquito fish) that eats mosquito larvae?

[@mohamed_is_him]

My aunts husband got paralyzed by dengue fever. He is a fairly old man around 50 and my aunt said he cried every morning. Maybe this will prevent other things like this from happening again.

[@bobbysumarso5965]

Yes. Not even a debate. I'll gladly accept any impact

[@Paul-A01]

This wouldn't target every species of mosquitoes, just a particular one that spreads malaria

[@Pro-kesh]

This "dilemma" has been going on for years. I have no faith that we will ever do this

[@pl__]

People are already doing that for years though

[@seb0rn739]

I hope not.

[@42billybob]

The most important thing is that we're having conversations about who should be having conversations about it.

[@Kaiyats]

You should learn CRISPER gene editing and do it yourself, there’s no laws on it.

[@TheZonecaptain]

look at singapore, we have this and it’s mosquito free in the city area

[@HowlingWolves]

i think as long as we keep questioning things like this, we can do stuff like this while not becoming unethical but if we don't choose an answer, we wouldn't get anywhere, even in the past, we wouldn't have cars, a/c, some medicines, many many things

[@Chanse1989]

How is this even a point of contention? No more mosquitoes

[@marianocolsin8968]

i did my biology project in this subject 2 years ago and i got the conclusion whe should totally try gene drive to kill harmful mosquitoes. i got a seven. One of my teachers wanted to give a ten and congratulated and even offered to write me a recomendation letter when i decided to enter university. The other one, a older ladie with 3 degrees, gave a 6 and told me my work was really good and it showed how much effort and care i put into it, and that she would never reprove a student for such work, but she also said that my conclusion is wrong and that "sometimes mankind focus more in how to make arms than in how to use them properly". i have to say, the last teachers is one of my favourite teachers of all time

[@zion3335]

with 3 degrees she doesnpt know that only 7-8 disease causing mosquitoes are there out of 1000's of species...and all 7-8 species are invasive species, introduced globally by human activity...removing invasive species is healing nature

[@KurtBorong]

I had to deal with the pain for years on my right ear when a mosquito went inside. So unforgivable.

[@SmilingBakedBaguette]

Brazil is right now facing yet another crisis of diseases transmitted by Aedes Egypti. It has already become epidemic. And with the global warming and record number of floods, those mosquitoes are just thriving.

[@andrewjgrimm]

In Australia, we have had some bad incidents with biological control, the most infamous being the introduction of the cane toad as biological control. I’m glad the consequences are being evaluated.

[@jfhucka1]

We can at least remove them from areas where they are invasive like Hawaii. Also I don’t think that there is a huge risk of accidentally wiping them out if done carefully since they have short lifespans, quick reproductive cycles and don’t typically travel large distances

[@zion3335]

They are invasive all over the world ...except some parts of africa wwhere they spread globally

[@jfhucka1]

If that is true and they aren’t naturally apart of that ecosystem I really don’t feel bad about exterminating them.

[@zion3335]

@@jfhucka1 only 7-8 species bite humans out of 1000's , all of those 7-8 mosquito species are invasive species, thir removal will benefit native mosquito species

[@zion3335]

@@jfhucka1 yes all 7-8 disease vector mosquitoes are all invasive species, all over the world. Most spread from few regions in africa throughout the world. Infact they outcompete native mosquitoes and thrive only in areas of human habitation...there are approx 2500 species and only 7-8 of them are invasive species and human disease vectors

[@jer103]

Here in Minnesota, we get bad outbreaks of mosquitoes(we have a lot of lakes and rain). However, in the past few years, we have been getting less rain which led to less mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay there eggs in water, so with the changing climate might mean less mosquitos in certain areas.

[@zion3335]

ades ageypti mosquito eggs can survive without water also

[@SevenTheMisgiven]

their*

[@oluwatobigbadamosi2417]

Sounds great. But an ethics committee need to be set up around gene drives. What stops scientists from experimenting with human populations? Is there a possibility of mutations? These are some of the questions that these committee should answer.

[@kakashisensei1114]

One time I had a really bad day, come midnight I'm trying to sleep but can't because of Mosquitoes buzzing and biting me which lead to itching. This went on for around 2 hours until I had a breakdown and literally cried myself to sleep since then I've always hated Mosquitoes.

[@GariFFUSA]

This should be implemented worldwide

[@hardikkumar7490]

0:20 that animation was trippy

[@saimandebbarma]

That's a very complex question whether we wanna get rid or not? Mosquitoes are actually good for our ecosystems, but the think is we haven't learn how to control or make use of them in a right way or we are making them useless with our actions that which depends on humans whether to get rid or make careful assessment of the potential risk & benifits before destroying them completely.👍

[@tobybeggs8676]

I have no empathy for mosquitoes themselves, I am a mosquito magnet, but I do empathize with the animals that eat them and need them to survive, mosquitoes are good as food because they are so abundant. Maybe we should just try to remove whatever poison or allergen that causes the itchiness and swelling

[@theidpboi6205]

as someone who's been serving as a mosquito buffet for most of his life - f yes. I've literally been making jokes about this for years oml

[@berdwatcher5125]

There gonna leave most mosquitos alone, just the ones that transmit desease. so your still going to get bitten.

[@Ashkanman]

This won't stop you from getting bit

[@thijsvandervoort8261]

"When i become priminister of the world first task on day 1 is killing all mosquitos" that kind of thing? I feel like that too

[@theidpboi6205]

@@Ashkanman i mean sure but it would negate the risks of getting diseases like dengue, which i have personally suffered from - although mine wasn't the most serious case in the world

[@AlecsNeo]

Yes , just yes . No dilemma here.

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

mosquitoes ≠ moral dilemma. slap them, it’s justice

[@hewhohasnoidentity4377]

I find it...... interesting..... how a few years ago when Zika was a concern in the US there was a surge in investment and effort to find ways to eradicate mosquitos from the planet. The next spring when the risk of mosquito linked human disease in the US was back to a normal low, so did the investment in mosquito control.

[@bamshares77]

i was lost for a bit because of how captivating the animation was

[@maxor2277]

I am confused as to why this is such a heated question when, if this were in a more developed part of the world (change the script and say those are Americans dying from these diseases) then there would be no hesitation to solve this problem ASAP, especially when the only argument is it *might* disrupt the ecosystem by removing a species of deadly mosquito from the food web (assuming we went with the population collapse strategy)

[@peepeetrain8755]

well due to climate change and whatnot, mosquito diseases are spreading further outside the tropics and deeper into temperate land, like USA and Australia have seen more outbreaks of tropical diseases. give it time haha

[@kshitijbachhav5332]

My heart says absolutely, but they are so prevalent in nature and have been for millions of years that they are a part of our ecosystem so idk.

[@vice.nor.virtue]

there'es literally a thousand other mosquitoes to fill their empty niche. From a fairly educated guess I don't think it's gonna be a big deal, ANNND Even if there are ecological consequences we can always re-introduce them if we have to. Unlike Cane Frogs, Rats, and other invasive species this is legitimately a pandora's box that we can put the lid back on if we have to.

[@pauloperes9378]

Their prevalence in "nature" is near human settlements, like pigeons, rats and stray cats/dogs. They've been "imported" from their ancestral habitats along human migrations and trade routes, evolving with us. Without their former natural pressures to keep their populations to a minimum, they rapidily dominate warm urban and suburban areas. Killing A. aegypti to extinction wouldn't distabilize natural ecosystems.

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

just slap them. no need to impose ideologies on this evolutionary failure

[@acuritis]

When I was a kid in the LA area we never worried about mosquitos but those invasive Chinese mosquitoes are vicious and spreading fast

[@Marta1Buck]

The modification has already showed its effect. Less people in my country infected by dengue. Around 70% less than 2 years ago before it was implemented

[@samarah.2945]

The ethical dilemma arises from how much we _don't_ yet know about the sciences...would this gene drive give birth to another kind of sickness which could spread to humans? Hard to say at this stage. I feel that no matter how many studies are carried out about the side effects, we'll never truly know whether it's worth it or not. Best to lay all other options on the table...open and creative thinking is needed. Personally my idea is to see how the environment can be changed to discourage mosquitoes to populate poor and clustered communities. Whether it be through natural insecticide plants or particular natural scents or urban design. Something a little less intrusive.... So much to learn!

[@anirudhmalkoti3505]

Yes

[@Gg-ij7li]

Jesus loves you all and is coming back soon! Believe in His death and resurrection and repent of your sins and be saved! Remember that He died and rose up again for you to be in heaven with Him! Have an amazing day ❤️❤

[@omegadeadpool2947]

@@Gg-ij7li Does Jesus come to beings who believe in other Religions?

[@ghostderazgriz]

We are stopping to think if we should when we should be concerned with whether or not we could.

[@chenalindelossantos967]

this is the way to good, not deciding quickly and unaware of the consequences. Research is the fundamental block of Science.

[@GI_Jimbo]

Isn't there a possibility that the malaria virus, if ecologically pressured by a collapse in its host's population, could find a new host that is potentially even a more dangerous transmitter of the disease?

[@atlas956]

i don‘t think evolutionary adaptation happens that quickly… if malaria could spread to other species as main hosts, it very likely would already be doing so. and besides, it would be hard to imagine a species more suit for spreading diseases across dozens of species than mosquitos.

[@darealg6823]

Well malaria wouldn't evolve that quickly if its vector population crashes, as it won't be able to spread in the 1st place. Also it's a protozoa, not a virus.

[@zion3335]

does not work like that

[@ldawg7117]

As a few others have said, no it doesn't work like that. Still a good/reasonable question, though.

[@Constitution1789]

The dilemma of choosing between forcing humans to receive inoculations or intervening with mother nature is a difficult one. Both options carry the risk of adverse long-term consequences. Infringing on an individual's freedom of choice by mandating inoculations only affects humans, but tampering with the natural order of things could have widespread consequences for both humans and other species. Neither option is ideal as it violates free will or the balance of nature. The best solution is to avoid experiments with far-reaching consequences and to minimize the impact of any action taken as much as possible.

[@LeCatte]

I'd like to see this being tested in controlled experiments over certain areas so we can get a gauge for how bad it might effect the ecosystem but I honestly feel that we are also underestimating nature's ability to adapt. It might not be a bad effect after all

[@ChrisWar666]

I think gene drives etc. definitely need extensive studies about the impact, but, in the meantime, 'encouraging' their natural predators in some form might be interesting. Unfortunately, my lizard and spiders don't seem to be doing much against the mozzies here 😞

[@randomstranger_3]

My question is that if mosquitoes were completely eradicated, is there something WORSE that could replace them like, I dunno, other bugs replacing the role of what mosquitoes do but it's doing ten times more harm to humans as a whole?

[@donaldhobson8873]

Not quickly. Evolution is slow. And if we see something else starting to be a problem, we can zap it with another gene drive.

[@afterschool2594]

We have products called Baygon in Indonesia and it's actually pretty effective

[@b1battledroid9824]

I live in India but I actually live in Kashmir which is a cold area so there are few mosquitoes in summer and no mosquitoes in winter and it's quite pleasant like this, I dread living in a place where mosquitoes are all year around since I'm not even used to them

[@stunnaptrpaul1400_]

Woah this is good its actually like a research that's why i love ted ed❤️

[@gamer_dino69yt]

The mosquitoes aren't too deadly themselves It's just the parasite

[@debangan]

But they sure are frustating and irritating to live with

[@Nah_I_Would_Plummet]

@@debangan almost 98% of mosquito species don't even mess with humans yet due to the actions of a few species, they all suffer the blame despite playing vital roles in different eco systems.

[@lonestarr1490]

@@Nah_I_Would_Plummet You and I, we both know that when people say, "KILL ALL THE MOSQUITOS!", they're only refering to those 2% which do, in fact, mess with humans. For the common layman these are the mosquitos, thus nobody really advocates for eradicating every species a scientist might label as "mosquito".

[@Nah_I_Would_Plummet]

@@lonestarr1490 I very much doubt that apart from you, me and many others like ourselves anyone else around the world annoyed by mosquitoes know this particular fact. Even I came to know this a few months ago. This wrong perception is especially due to the fact that humans are mostly surrounded by mosquitoes that DO harm them.

[@TheGregamonster]

The parasite is too small an enemy to combat. The mosquito has the misfortune of being large enough to actually fight.

[@NobleCG]

Love how almost the entire comment section has no dilemma about this

[@kriegschiff]

whenever I saw the title I immediately thought about those soviet environment projects which always ended as spectacular environment catastrophes

[@dmitripogosian5084]

Can yiu name some in particular, so that we can compare ?

[@jimysk8er]

I wonder if it would be possible and or effective to have a gene for a softer needle/nose or possibly different feet on mosquitoes that could make praying on humans more difficult. Or a gene that makes them develop a sensitivity to a readily available non toxic aroma like ash or lye or citrus or capsaicin.

[@nightshark1156]

"Dilemma"? Did a mosquito write the title?

[@S7E_Siriel-Privat]

I think as soon as any human life can be saved, I'd instantly take the opportunity. Might be reckless in some cases, but in cases like this it would be a no-brainer. But luckyly there are smarter people than me to take such decisions XD

[@juicypear327]

Human beings should not mess with things for which the consequences are unknown, especially when they are irreversible. Ecosystems are fragile and just the loss of one or two species can completely disrupt the balance. Extinction is never the solution to our short-sighted self-interests

[@jzakary1]

The emotional detachment of this video could only come from someone who isn't directly effected by Malaria. Issues of ethicacy and the environment get thrown out the window when thousands are dying around you.

[@TheDreamLeaf]

Perhaps. Can also be argued that an unbiased view could only be taken by someone who is _not_ directly affected by malaria

[@donaldhobson8873]

It's called being a "bio-ethicist". To justify their own existence, bio-ethicists must make ethics complicated enough to require bio-ethicists to understand. A simple "yes" that is the correct answer in this case is too easy. "More research needed on this difficult question" is what gets the funding. Related stupidities by bio-ethicists. Stopping covid human challenge trials. All the people calling curing blindness a "cultural genocide of blind culture". Anyone saying "death gives meaning to life" or coming up with bizarre contrived ideas on how tech that reversed aging would lead to growing inequality and reduced social mobility, or whatever it is this week.

[@Sage521]

We should mourn their loss just as much as they would mourn ours.

[@theidpboi6205]

…so not at all then, mother.

[@tylerasada2908]

Nah

[@livelaughsol7066]

not really. trees don't mourn our loss because they don't have emotions, but we still know that we can't destroy them

[@uranus2970]

@@livelaughsol7066 Can you be so sure about plants not having emotions?

[@whyhellothere6855]

You lost me at having empathy for mosquitoes.

[@danuk500]

On the surface it sounds great. However, what happens if we set in motion a collapse in the ecosystem or other species somehow become sterile? Sounds like there is plenty of potential to do some serious damage if we get it wrong

[@Jurian81]

Absolutely yes. Don't overthink it. This is a good plan.