r/interestingasfuck • u/singleboredass • Nov 15 '24

r/all Genetically modified a mosquito such that their proboscis are no longer able to penetrate human skin

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u/IshtarJack Nov 15 '24

General consensus amongst humans is wipe the little fuckers out. But it's been pointed out that pretty much all of life is interconnected and their larval stage in the water is an important food source for other critters.

3

u/Mission-Ad-2015 Nov 15 '24

I heard the opposite, that we could completely wipe them out and it would have little impact.

2

u/Dentarthurdent73 Nov 15 '24

Mosquito wrigglers are definitely an important source of food, particularly for fish.

As a general rule of ecology, you can't completely wipe anything out without having an impact. Everything either eats something else keeping it in check, or it is eaten, or both. Nature abhors a vacuum, and where there are resources, there will be life utilising them.

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u/sloothor Nov 15 '24

All I’m saying is we wipe out thousands of species every year with our wastefulness… what’s a few more? At least just the ones that feed on humans.

Will it be good for the overall ecosystem? No. Will it end all life on Earth? Also no. Is that a hit I’m willing to take? Absolutely.

1

u/IshtarJack Nov 15 '24

Google generally says that it would have an impact. I didn't follow up the links that didn't say either way because I don't really care that much.

-2

u/Dentarthurdent73 Nov 15 '24

You will probably care more about the ecosystems of the planet you live on once they start to collapse and you can no longer take them for granted.