Genetic Modification: Self-Limiting Gene For Diamondback Moth Caterpillars Offers Population Control

New findings published in the journal BMC Biology reveal that the British company Oxitec has successfully created genetically modified Diamondback moth caterpillars. 

As one of the world's biggest pests, you're probably familiar with this guy, sometimes called the cabbage moth, for chomping on some of our favorite plants and vegetables (and including cabbage, too, of course.) While farmers have put lots of money and effort into stopping this pest from scarfing down crops, many efforts have gone unrewarded. The bugs seem to have developed an immunity to most of the chemicals used to kill them.

That's where Oxitec comes in with genetic modification. Researchers figured out a way for the female offsprings of the bugs that parent the caterpillars to die before they have the chance to reproduce, with a slow drop in population, according to a news release. 

Researchers noted that they hope their new designer moths can help solve some pesky population problems.

"This research is opening new doors for the future of farming with pest control methods that are non-toxic and pesticide-free," study author Neil Morrison, lead research scientist on Oxitec's diamondback moth program, via BBC. "We all share an interest in safe and environmentally friendly pest control, so this is a very promising tool that could be put to good use by farmers."

However, this would not be the first similar testing. Genetic engineering on mosquitoes was also tested in Panama, the Cayman Islands and Brazil. With this help, insect populations were dramatically reduced, according to Phys.org.

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