Genetically modified mosquito

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India has granted permission to the International Institute of Biotechnology and Toxicology (IIBAT), near Chennai, India to run trials on the Genetically Modified (GM) mosquito. The GM mosquito is engineered by the researchers at the Oxford University to control dengue and chikungunya. Around 55% of the world population is at risk of getting dengue and 120 countries are endemic. This technology deploys genetically sterile Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes to fight the disease- causing ones.