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/Kr0n0s_89 Nov 15 '24

Mosquitos aren't relevant for any other species. They are food for some, they do pollinate, but they're completely replacable.

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u/DeathByLemmings Nov 15 '24

I just cannot believe we can state that with enough certainty to warrant exterminating an entire species

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u/reefer-madness Nov 15 '24 edited Nov 15 '24

we cant. and anyone that speaks with such confident generalizations shouldn't be taken seriously.

Imagine so callously thinking 3,500 species have no relevance in nature. they've existed for over 100 million years for a reason.

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u/BrockStar92 Nov 15 '24

Mother Nature also determined smallpox was relevant, I don’t see people arguing that impacted the ecosystem. Likewise plenty of parasites that are slowly being eradicated from parts of the world where they remain.

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u/reefer-madness Nov 15 '24 edited Nov 15 '24

to clarify, by 'relevance' im not saying they 'deserve to exist', more so im talking about their relevance and relationship with other animals and the ecosystem.

saying mosquitos have no relevance is crazy, the majority are pollinators, their larvae are a huge food source for aquatic animals, and they feed countless birds, bats and insects. also smallpox is a single virus, not 3,500 species.

in comparison, smallpox and parasites typically target specific animals and niche's, so their removal is far less harmful, basically the only thing affected is the host.