Genetically Modified Caterpillar Could Be the Solution To Insect Plagues

Oxitec, a British biotech firm, is known for creating a genetically modified mosquito to fight off dengue and other blood-borne diseases in Florida and Texas. They have some experience in developing genetically modified bugs and has now introduced a GM self-destructing caterpillar.

The goal is to stop this kind of worm from devastating rice and corn crops around the globe without having to use pesticides.

The executives from Oxitec and its multinational partner Bayer announced that they had developed a fall armyworm, which contains a self-limiting gene that can be introduced into the male species during mating. Once the male successfully mates with a female, the resulting egg becomes overloaded with a key protein and quickly dies.

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Neil Morrison, head of the agricultural programs at Oxitec, said that the gene produces the protein at such high levels that other natural proteins vital for developing the caterpillar can't be created. Due to the overproduction of this protein, the caterpillar's normal cell machinery is swamped and dies.

According to Morrison, the protein the Oxitec gene encodes only affects the female specie, which means its lethal effect will run only for a few generations. This is different from the so-called "gene drive" technology. A lethal gene is passed on throughout a targeted insect species ad infinitum, which might cause a runaway genetic mutation that could potentially destroy an entire species.

The fall armyworm originated in America and has spread quickly throughout 12 nations, leaving a trail of destruction in just a matter of days if not controlled. UN's Food and Agriculture Organization reported that an estimated 17.7 million tons of corn crops are destroyed yearly by the fall armyworm and caused an estimated $6.3 billion in damage.

This growing infestation has forced many growers in many developing countries to start using pesticides, which can be damaging to both human health and the environment.  

Ashley Tesselow, an entomology graduate student at Texas A&M University who is researching ways to control this caterpillar, said they usually do not survive winters. Still, there are times that their population skyrockets and cause an outbreak. Although it doesn't occur yearly, once it happens, it can result in complete yield loss.

The Continuous Battle Between Farmers and Pests

Jaydee Hanson, policy director at the Center for Food Safety, said that this Oxitec program would only kill one of many insects that plagued the farmers and do not believe that introducing a GM insect can actually control agricultural pests. 

Anthony Shelton, a professor of entomology at Cornell University, agreed that it is a continuous battle between farmers and pests. Technological innovation must be available to counter these fast-breeding insects, which continuously develop resistance to pesticides. What scientists need to do is create more environmentally friendly ways to combat these pests.

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