This is why Bill Gates has a gigantic farm of modified mosquitoes – 2024-05-09 07:26:55

2024-05-09 07:26:55

1. Bill Gates is not only known for Microsoft or Windows, but also for his philanthropic work in favor of global health.

2. One of its most notable projects is the genetically modified mosquito farm it has in Colombia.

Bill Gates is one of the most important people in the technological world, and no wonder, since he is recognized as the founder of Microsoft and the brain behind the Windows operating system, as well as other services such as Office 365 and even Xbox.

However, its influence transcends the limits of computing, since through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it has been committed to various social and environmental causes, from improving education to promoting sustainable energy sources.

But his commitment doesn’t stop there. Gates has also demonstrated significant concern for global health. He has dedicated himself to supporting research and the fight against mosquito-borne diseases.

With a considerable investment of millions of dollars, it has supported innovative research and programs to combat dengue, Zika and malaria, which represent a threat to public health in many regions of the planet.

It is important to mention that Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting diseases that affect millions of people, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. It is estimated that they cause more than 700,000 deaths each year, making it a worrying situation.

Bill Gates has taken a notable step in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases by establishing an impressive farm in Medellín, Colombia, dedicated to breeding modified mosquitoes.

The main objective of this project is to combat deadly conditions such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever, which continue to affect entire communities.

As it does? The key is the introduction of mosquitoes infected with a bacteria called Wolbachiawhich acts as a natural barrier against the viruses responsible for these diseases.

It is based on the SIT technique (Sterile Insect Technique). The male insects of the species Temples of the Egyptians They are genetically modified to carry a gene that causes the death of their female offspring.

These are released into the environment, where they mate with wild females. By inheriting the lethal gene, female offspring do not reach adulthood, significantly reducing the mosquito population and therefore disease transmission.

This ambitious project is part of the World Mosquito Programa global initiative supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and renowned universities such as Monash and Antioquia.

The collaboration between these institutions has allowed the development of a safe, sustainable and economical solution to reduce the impact of mosquito-borne diseases in vulnerable communities around the world.

With a production of 30 million mosquitoes per week from the Aburrá Valley, in the south-central department of Antioquia, Colombia, It has been possible to create a protection zone that covers a radius of 101 kilometersthus preventing the transmission of diseases to millions of people.

Source: COMPUTER TODAY