> first, how should such a "transfer of genes" to another species proceed? This is not how it works.
Couldn't a viral infection do this? Some virus that existed inside the mosquito could be modified by (or modify itself in response to) this generic engineering and then transfered to an unintended host.
> They almost certainly won't be in the ecosystem long enough
Your use of absolutes here (with respect to the unknown) makes me want to turn on the news and wait for the big announcement that this new breed of mosquitos has unknowingly caused an undead plague in Africa ;)
NOTE: I am not saying this should have never been tested. I am just surprised how little is known before a public trial was executed.
Couldn't a viral infection do this? Some virus that existed inside the mosquito could be modified by (or modify itself in response to) this generic engineering and then transfered to an unintended host.
> They almost certainly won't be in the ecosystem long enough
Your use of absolutes here (with respect to the unknown) makes me want to turn on the news and wait for the big announcement that this new breed of mosquitos has unknowingly caused an undead plague in Africa ;)
NOTE: I am not saying this should have never been tested. I am just surprised how little is known before a public trial was executed.