Topic: Mosquitoes

Biologist Anthony James and his team used CRISPR to create "gene drives" in mosquitoes that ensure specific traits, like malaria resistance, are passed to 100% of offspring. This violates the standard laws of Mendelian genetics. The hosts discuss the 2020 release of 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida and the "scary science" of altering an entire species without knowing the long-term consequences.

CRISPR technology is identified as a significant global threat due to its ability to modify DNA with relatively accessible tools. The segment notes that bioengineering can now be performed on home computers using open-source code. Recent releases of hundreds of thousands of genetically modified mosquitoes are cited as a troubling application of this gene-editing technology.