Journal of Mosquito Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 10-17 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/jmr 12 The release of genetically edited mosquitoes may cause uncertainty in population dynamics. The interaction between edited mosquitoes and existing mosquito populations may trigger complex population dynamics, and even lead to a significant increase or decrease in the number of some populations. This change may affect the stability of the entire ecosystem and have a negative impact on the services provided by the ecosystem, such as water resource regulation and soil conservation. 1.3 Potential benefits: the potential to reduce mosquito borne diseases The release of genetically edited mosquitoes has potential significant benefits in reducing mosquito borne diseases (Figure 2). By precisely editing the genes of mosquitoes, their ability to transmit diseases can be targeted and weakened, thereby reducing the risk of infection. This has significant implications for some infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. By reducing the ability of mosquitoes to transmit diseases, it is possible to reduce human infections during outbreaks and epidemic seasons, thereby protecting people's health. Figure 2 Mosquito borne diseases (Image source: Baidu Image Library) The release of genetically edited mosquitoes has the potential to achieve long-term and sustained disease control. Compared to traditional chemical insecticides or drugs, gene edited mosquitoes may be more durable and sustainable. Once the genes of mosquitoes are successfully edited, their ability to reduce disease transmission may continue from generation to generation, providing an innovative approach for long-term disease control. The potential to reduce mosquito-borne diseases will also have socio-economic benefits. Medical expenditures, unemployment, and reduced labor force productivity caused by infectious diseases put tremendous pressure on society. Successful application of gene-edited mosquito release may reduce the burden of infectious diseases, thereby reducing healthcare costs, increasing labor productivity, and promoting healthy socioeconomic development. By reducing the potential for mosquito-borne disease transmission, the release of gene-edited mosquitoes has important benefits such as reducing the risk of disease transmission, achieving long-term disease control, and creating socioeconomic benefits (Sun et al., 2023). However, these benefits must be weighed and realized with full consideration of ecological and ethical issues. 2 Ecosystem Response and Dynamics 2.1 Ecological niche changes The release of gene-edited mosquitoes could lead to changes in ecological niches in the ecosystem that would affect interactions with other organisms. Such changes will affect mosquito roles in the food chain, competitive relationships and patterns of interactions. To accurately assess the impact of these changes, comprehensive ecological studies are needed to ensure that ecological balance is maintained and ecosystems are stabilized.
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