US military agency invests $100m in genetic extinction technologies

[Dr. Who]

Technology could be used to wipe out malaria carrying mosquitos or other pests but UN experts say fears over possible military uses and unintended consequences strengthen case for a ban.


A US military agency is investing $100m in genetic extinction technologies that could wipe out malarial mosquitoes, invasive rodents or other species, emails released under freedom of information rules show.
The documents suggest that the US’s secretive Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has become the world’s largest funder of “gene drive” research and will raise tensions ahead of a UN expert committee meeting in Montreal beginning on Tuesday.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is debating whether to impose a moratorium on the gene research next year and several southern countries fear a possible military application.


https://www.theguardian.com/science/...n-technologies

This is really terrifying. There are no bad species on the planet, they all play a part in the natural balance. Extinction is happening on its own, we shouldn't be deliberately contributing to it and killing off one species will likely have a domino effect. The lowly mosquito is food for millions of birds, bats, fish and amphibians. Rodents are food for raptors and other species. This is very, very wrong.

[Common]

Theres alot of things happening that they call progress and technology and breakthroughs etc that are just wrong.

[Peter1469]

Unintended consequences could be a $#@!.

Technology could be used to wipe out malaria carrying mosquitos or other pests but UN experts say fears over possible military uses and unintended consequences strengthen case for a ban.


A US military agency is investing $100m in genetic extinction technologies that could wipe out malarial mosquitoes, invasive rodents or other species, emails released under freedom of information rules show.
The documents suggest that the US’s secretive Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has become the world’s largest funder of “gene drive” research and will raise tensions ahead of a UN expert committee meeting in Montreal beginning on Tuesday.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is debating whether to impose a moratorium on the gene research next year and several southern countries fear a possible military application.


https://www.theguardian.com/science/...n-technologies

This is really terrifying. There are no bad species on the planet, they all play a part in the natural balance. Extinction is happening on its own, we shouldn't be deliberately contributing to it and killing off one species will likely have a domino effect. The lowly mosquito is food for millions of birds, bats, fish and amphibians. Rodents are food for raptors and other species. This is very, very wrong.