‘Self-limiting’ gene to kill offspring

The Oxitec GM mosquito contains a ‘self-limiting’ gene that causes any offspring it has to die. Oxitec releases genetically engineered male mosquitoes – which don’t bite – into the wild to mate with wild female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. They breed, and the offspring die before reaching adulthood. In addition to Zika, Aedes aegypti is a vector for many diseases, including yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya.