The results of a very interesting science research project have been published this week online. In this research experiment scientists were for the first time able to show that genetic changes can be introduced into large laboratory mosquito populations over the span of a few generations by just a small number of modified mosquitoes.
These findings if replicated could provide science with a wonderful means of reducing the likelihood that mosquitos could transmit some very deadly diseases to humans and other species. To read about this discovey please visit the Science Digest website:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110420143616.htm
To see an abstract of this research please click on the following link which will take you to part of the "Nature.com " website:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature09937.html
"Anopheline mosquitoes (like the one pictured above) are the species of mosquito that primarily transmit malaria. These mosquitoes bite during the nighttime hours". (source:http://www.tinymosquito.com/malaria.html )
Only females of any species of mosquito bite humans.They do this in order to facilitate the breeding of eggs within their bodies.
Source of image:
http://www.broadinstitute.org/files/blog/images/2010/7861_lores%20mosquito.jpg
To learn more about Anopheline mosquitoes please visit the following websites:
http://www.cbwinfo.com/Biological/Vectors/Anopheline.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anopheles http://www.anobase.org/
Here is a video I found at Youtube which shows how humans become infected with Malaria:
Source of video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEDhe4MPEMc
