How did sterile genetically modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes reduce mosquito populations in Brazil field trials?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Rows of genetically modified barley plants grow in an outdoor test plot in Germany, with a yellow marker labeled 3 and protective netting overhead. — genetically modified organism Genetically modified crops are assessed for their impact on environmental factors such as soil quality.

In field trials conducted in a suburb of Brazil, researchers utilized male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that had been genetically engineered using the sterile insect technique.12

These modified males were designed to transmit a specific gene to their offspring. This inherited gene acts as a lethal mechanism, causing the offspring to die before they can reach sexual maturity. By sustaining the release of these sterile males into the wild population, the researchers effectively disrupted the reproductive cycle of the mosquitoes, leading to a 95 percent decline in the local A. aegypti population.12