Not too long ago, any type of genetic manipulation was the stuff of science fiction books and movies like Jurassic Park and Gattaca. And while we’re still decades away from the human genome being selected or edited, the same is not true for the lab rats of the world. That is to say, literally, the rats that are in the lab.
The experimental technology, known as Gene Driving, was first developed to try and eliminate malaria carrying mosquitoes.
If you remember your high school biology lessons, you’re familiar with the fact that there are two sets of genetic markers that make up each strand of DNA – one from the father and one from the mother. To simplify, when an egg is fertilized, the two strands of 23 alleles combine to form 23 pairs of chromosomes to form the DNA of every cell in a human being.
And the system works similarly for other mammals, just in different quantities.
Gene Driving interrupts the natural genetic process by overriding the natural biological processes with engineered genes that cause the rats to have, instead of shared genetics between their father and mother rats – they only have the mother’s genes.
If all rats were female, they couldn’t reproduce. And if this sounds familiar, it’s a variation on the method Michael Crichton proposed in his dinosaur novels. After 4 movies and a 5th on the way, I think we all know how that ended. (Hey, weren’t mosquitoes part of that too?)
And while no one is worried that rats are going to escape from their island and eat the humans, there are some in the scientific community that are concerned about other consequences when “Life finds a way.”
To put it more specifically, they’re concerned that such genetically engineered organisms could have an irreversible impact on the ecosystem. It’s not just about genetically engineering sterility or reducing aggression. It’s more that they’re concerned that we are fiddling with nature without fully comprehending what the consequences could be.
And while some are calling for a complete halt to all of the research related to gene driving, the researchers who developed the process point out that completely abandoning the research means that we may never understand it, and it could be a very effective way to cut down on several disease-carrying and crop-devouring insects and rodents.
Unlike the typical science fiction B movie plot, however, the original researchers are adamant that they need to better understand the animals and the ultimate result of their existence in nature before releasing them from the lab.
The next step in the process, they say, would be to develop an engineered gene drive that is self-limiting. Instead of taking out a whole species, it could temporarily slow generational growth – for example, stop rabbits from breeding, allowing the population to be more easily controlled.
The hope that these scientists in Scotland cling to is that we can find a better way to try and control the spread of harmful parasitic viruses and diseases that cause things like malaria and dengue and zika virus. It is becoming harder to develop vaccines and the diseases themselves mutate to be resistant to treatments, while at the same time their transmission partners (the mosquitoes) become more resilient to traditional pesticides.
Like it or not, and despite the moral implications, we might find ourselves having to develop mutations to fight nature’s mutations in order to survive.
Luckily, we have a solution – for the mosquito problem at least – that doesn’t require potentially harmful pesticides. Our exclusive No Bite Zones have turned biting, blood-seeking female mosquitoes into vegans, from Punta Gorda to Lakewood Ranch, and lets them pass it on to their offspring. Suddenly your rainy season isn’t as buggy and the mosquitoes get to fulfill their God-given purpose of pollinating. Give us a call today to find out more!
If you’re like most of us, you either made some resolutions or set some goals for yourself for the coming year. The start of a new year is a nice signpost for initiating a change. So we decide to lose weight, read more, eat healthier, watch less TV, save money and exercise more. But why stop there? Why not make some resolutions to improve the place you spend most of your time?
Here are some short-term and longer ranging goals you can set to give yourself a better home.
A safe home is a good place to be. That’s why you invested in smoke detectors, right? But there are other unseen dangers to be informed about.
Every time you do a load of laundry, you clean the lint trap. Or at least you should – studies show that almost a third of Americans don’t clean their lint trap – which costs you significantly in energy bills, as well as posing a fire danger. On top of that, even when you DO clean the trap, there’s 3-6 feet of dryer vent where excess lint can catch on its way out of the house. You should clean this out at least twice a year, but to truly ensure safety, experts recommend cleaning it every 3-4 months. Start now, then mark the next 3 dates on your calendar.
In addition to smoke detectors, many homes now have carbon monoxide detectors installed. If you haven’t, strongly consider it. Even in Florida, chimney flues and furnace vents get stopped up – especially since we use them less frequently – and can cause a CO leak that can silently kill you.
Similarly, 21,000 people each year die from lung cancer caused by radon. According to the EPA, 1 in every 15 homes has elevated levels, so the $20 cost of a test kit is well worth it.
One thing most of us are guilty of is collecting and saving far too much stuff. Not only is it a bad habit, but it’s one our kids will also pick up on. That doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything, or do some yearly purge. First off, be conscious and intentional about what you keep. Go paperless with your bills and take advantage of digital options for space stealers like DVD’s, books and music – especially if its material you only partake of once or twice a year or less. And when Christmas comes around again, consider giving or asking for one of these greener gifts!
And as much as doing a big spring cleaning or garage sale appeals to some, you may get overwhelmed with the amount of work you imagine it will take. Choose instead to go area by area – each month clearing out another room or closet and donating unneeded items to charity – the write off is likely worth more than the 25-cents you’d get at a garage sale anyways.
A word of warning – don’t clean one room by just mov— er, reorganizing it into another room. Actually go through everything. It’ll take less time than you think, especially if you get the whole family involved!
And speaking of the whole family… Nobody said that you have to clean the whole place by yourself. Nor do you have to be solely responsible for keeping it all clean. Everyone in the family can and should pitch in to keep the house presentable.
Start with making sure all dishes go in the dishwasher, if you have one. Or be like my grandparents who hand washed the dishes after each meal. Either way, don’t pile them up in the sink to attract bugs and rodents, or smell up the place. Similarly, everyone is responsible for making sure their clothes go in the hamper, jackets get hung up, and stuff like keys and backpacks and phones are placed in the appropriate spot each day before bed.
Assign each member of the family chores, and rotate them so everyone gets to do their most and least ‘favorite’ each month. Each person gets one or two tasks: dusting, sorting laundry, vacuuming, taking out the trash, filling & running the washing machine, changing sheets, cleaning the bathroom, hanging the clothes out to dry, turning on the dishwasher. Once you get into the rhythm, you can get a whole lot done in just an hour or two.
How many opportunities to spend quality time with family and friends is lost because we’d be embarrassed to have them see how the house really looks? Hopefully, the weekly routine helps eliminate much of that problem. The next step is making sure your home is inviting to guests.
Now that our TV’s hang on the walls, it’s harder to hide them when company comes over, but they don’t have to be the centerpiece of your home either. Have a room that’s organized and ready for guests – plenty of comfortable seating, good lighting, some candles and floral accents can really open a place up and make it feel welcoming.
Wanna go a little further? Add a splash of color to the walls. Nobody likes to look at white or beige all the time. Add a little wine red, pastel yellow, or eggshell blue to one or more rooms – or all three – and make it feel like your home is an oasis from the boring and cliché.
We’ve mentioned several of these in other posts, but it’s always good to remember – it’s never been easier – or cheaper – to be environmentally friendly than it is now. Install a low-flush toilet, low-flow showerheads, and only do laundry when you have a full load. Consider redoing your lawn with approved native Xeriscaping. Plus, some Florida counties have rebates you can take advantage of to defray some of the cost of water saving improvements, inside and out.
Replace your light bulbs – not only do LED and CFL bulbs last longer and use less energy, they also tend to give off more illumination without increasing the temperature in the room. And regardless, turn the lights off when you leave the room.
Set your thermostat at 80 for AC or 65 for heat when you leave the house – better yet, get a programmable thermostat that will turn on or off in anticipation of your return. Or, if you really want to go all out, get a Nest or similar device that you can control from your smart phone.
You’ll not only be saving the planet, you’ll be cutting down your utility bills too. We’re big proponents of the going green movement here at Good News Pest Solutions. In fact, we’re going to be highlighting several tips every month for the next year on how you can be more environmentally conscious throughout your home.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention another green home improvement – 100% All natural pest control! Yes, for over 10 years, we’ve used green methods and found them to be not only safe for your family and pets, but also more effective than the chemical treatments of the past. Give us a call and we’ll come by and show you what your neighbors from North Port to Bradenton already know about our award-winning pest solutions.
By the way, statistics say we don’t stick to personal resolutions for as long as we’d like. A big part of that failure is a lack of accountability. The nice thing about these resolutions for your home – everyone can be a part of it – make a commitment with your family to keep these resolutions and we promise by next year you’ll have a cleaner, more inviting house and a whole lot less stress (about the house, anyways)!
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