Scientists from University of California, San Diego have created a strain of mosquitoes which are capable of rapidly introducing malaria-blocking genes into a mosquito population through its progeny. As a result of this it will ultimately eliminate the insects' ability to transmit the disease to humans.
The researchers inserted a DNA element into the germ line of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes by using a groundbreaking gene editing technique that resulted in the gene which prevented malaria transmission being passed on to 99.5 per cent of offspring. A. stephensi is a leading malaria vector in Asia. 
Anthony James, a professor at the University said that this new breed of mosquitoes opens up the real promise that this technique can be adapted for eliminating malaria.
The study underlines the growing utility of the CRISPR method, a powerful gene editing tool that allows access to a cell's nucleus to snip DNA to either replace mutated genes or insert new ones.
Researchers packaged anti-malaria genes with a Cas9 enzyme (which can cut DNA) and a guide RNA to create a genetic "cassette" that, when injected into a mosquito embryo, targeted a highly specific spot on the germ line DNA to insert the anti-malaria Antibody genes.
To ensure that the element carrying the malaria-blocking antibodies had reached the desired DNA site, the researchers included in the cassette a Protein that gave the progeny red fluorescence in the eyes.
James said that as many as 99.5 per cent of offspring exhibited this trait, it is an amazing result for such a system that can change inheritable traits.
"This is a significant first step. We know the gene works. The mosquitoes we created are not the final brand, but we know this technology allows us to efficiently create large populations," James added.
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