More meddling

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by clueless1, Nov 20, 2013.

  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    What do we think will happen if 3 species of insect suddenly started dropping in numbers?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24958488

    A firm is hoping to release genetically modified flies into olive groves to wipe out a particular fly that is a pest to olive growers.

    Meanwhile in Brazil the same firm has been testing another GM fly to get rid of mozzies, and they say they've seen a 96% reduction in mozzies in their trial.

    They're also working on a GM fruit fly to wipe them out too.

    It all sounds good in a way. I hate flies, and I know that some of them are pests, but I can't help but wonder what happens to the birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish etc etc that eat them.
     
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      clueless1, Nov 20, 2013
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    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      They will go ahead with it, get loads of subsidies from governments all around the world for ten or fifteen years, and then all of a sudden someone somewhere will 'discover' that they have inadvertently knackered the life cycle of spiders across the globe, and that we are going to be over-ran by 40-million other species of fly that cannot be controlled by GM flies.
       
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        Fat Controller, Nov 20, 2013
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      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

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        The above says it all..... 'it's a pest to olive growers'. Is it an issue for the trees? If nature is left to it's own devices it will take care of itself in time..... after all it existed before we did! :)
         
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          Sheal, Nov 20, 2013
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        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          Yes, but we've been interfering for so long now that any natural patterns are well and truly scuppered.
          Kill all the flies. What could possibly go wrong? :gaah:
           
          Loofah, Nov 21, 2013
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        • Jenny namaste

          Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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          :goodpost:
           
          Jenny namaste, Nov 21, 2013
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