Skip to main content

Biologists have successfully bred genetically engineered mosquitoes that can't carry malaria

Mosquito-borne malaria is a major problem, especially in Africa, Latin America, and other tropical parts of the world. The disease is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium that resides within the mosquito and is transferred to humans when they are bitten by the blood-sucking insect. One way to combat this disease is to genetically engineer a mosquito population to reject the Plasmodium parasite. If the mosquitos can’t carry the Plasmodium parasite, then they can’t infect humans with malaria when they bite. This strategy of building a resistant community of mosquitos is sound in theory, but in real world tests only about 50 percent of the offspring insects will acquire the resistance from its parents. A new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ups this inheritance percentage to almost 100 percent using a controversial new technique called “gene driving.”

In a nutshell, gene driving is a method of manipulating DNA that ensures a gene is passed from a parent to its progeny at a rate as close as possible to 100 percent. To achieve this feat, scientists use the genome editing CRISPR–Cas9 system, which allows the researchers to target a specific area on the DNA for cutting and insertion of a mutated gene. This mutation is then transferred from one chromosome to another, ensuring all offspring inherit at least one copy of the modified gene. Because all offspring get a copy of the mutation, the modified gene then can be transmitted very quickly through a population of animals in the wild. As you can imagine, the technique is causing is the subject of much controversy among scientists. Not only does it override the natural process of evolution by quickly altering an population, these rapid changes can also produce unforeseen side effects on the ecosystem as a whole.

Recommended Videos

Earlier this year, developmental biologists Ethan Bier, Valentino Gantz, and their team from University of California, San Diego successfully engineered a gene drive in fruit flies. They then contacted Anthony James, a molecular biologist at the University of California, Irvine to see if their technique would apply to his research with malaria and mosquitos. Working with Bier and Gantz, James inserted two genes into a mosquito that would give the insect an innate resistance to the Plasmodium parasite. A follow-up study showed that the modified genes were passed to 99 percent of the mosquito’s offspring. The team confirmed the genes were being expressed in the progeny, but because their test was conducted in under laboratory conditions, they did not check to see if the genes conferred resistance as expected.

Well aware of the potential to change an entire population of insects, James experimented on a non-native mosquito, ensuring the mutation would not spread like wildfire in the rare chance a test mosquito escaped from the lab. Though happy with the outcome of his experiments, James confirmed he is in no rush to move his experiment from the laboratory to the field. “It’s not going to go anywhere until the social science advances to the point where we can handle it,” James says. “We’re not about to do anything foolish.”

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more