The dilemma
This is a big decision. Exterminating mosquitoes has benefits, but there are risks too.
What to do
Answer the research questions you wrote in the ‘what I want to know’ column of the grid below.
1. Look at the sources below to see which ones are relevant. List these in the ‘how I will find out’ column.
2. Use the sources of information to answer them and complete the ‘what I have learnt’ column.
3. You are now ready to communicate your views:
Sources
Use your scientific skills to decide which sources are relevant and to extract the important information. The ‘thinking guides’ below can help you. Real sources come from websites. Adapted sources have been edited to make them easier to read.
Real sources
Oxitec video Listen to real scientists explain their work and find out how GM mosquitoes can help exterminate dangerous ones.
GM mosquito diagram A diagram to show how the GM technology works.
Scientific paper This is a paper written by scientists and explains their research. It will help you decide if GM mosquitoes work. The language is difficult (there is an adapted version below).
Press release Oxitec wrote this. It is to help journalists write articles about some of their research. An adapted version is below.
News video Oxitec are planning to release GM mosquitoes in Florida, USA (mosquitoes living there spread both dengue fever and zika). This news story highlights some of the concerns residents have.
New York times article Collective evolution website These two websites contain lots of opinions on the risks and benefits of GM mosquitoes.
Adapted sources
These ones have been edited:
If you find searching the websites for opinions difficult, use the document ‘risks and benefits’ instead.
Scientific paper
Press release
Risks and benefits
Ethical viewpoints wall Here are some ethical viewpoints for you to discuss using rights and duties thinking.
Thinking guides
Thinking guides
These sheets help you think through the skills you need to extract information and to make decisions:
Interrogate sources thinking guide: This will help you to decide how reliable sources such as news articles, press releases and scientific papers are.
Estimate risks thinking guide: Use this to weigh up the benefits and risks of science applications and technologies.
Use ethics thinking guide: This explains rights and duties – one type of ethical thinking that will help you to make an ethical decision.