المدة الزمنية 5:27

Ethical dilemma: Should we get rid of mosquitoes - Talya Hackett

بواسطة TED-Ed

726 122 مشاهدة

25.4 K

تم نشره في 2023/01/31

Explore how the technology of gene drives could lead to the eradication of mosquitoes and what that could mean for our ecosystems. -- Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths every year than any other animal, but very few of the 3,500 mosquito species actually transmit deadly diseases to humans. Scientists have been conducting experiments using engineered technologies called gene drives that could theoretically get rid of the most lethal mosquitoes. So, should we eradicate these pesky insects? Talya Hackett investigates. Lesson by Talya Hackett, directed by Luísa M H Copetti, Hype CG. Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreon Check out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us ---------------------------------------------- Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletter Follow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebook Find us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitter Peep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram ---------------------------------------------- Keep Learning ---------------------------------------------- View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/ethical-dilemma-should-we-get-rid-of-mosquitoes-talya-hackett Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/ethical-dilemma-should-we-get-rid-of-mosquitoes-talya-hackett#digdeeper Animator's website: https://www.hype.cg and https://www.luisacopetti.com.br ---------------------------------------------- Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Po Foon Kwong, Boffin, Jesse Jurman, Scott Markley, Elija Peterson, Ovidiu Mrd, paul g mohney, Steven Razey, Nathan Giusti, Helen Lee, Anthony Benedict, Karthik Balsubramanian, Annastasshia Ames, Amy Lopez, Vinh-Thuy Nguyen, Liz Candee, Ugur Doga Sezgin, Karmi Nguyen, John C. Vesey, Yelena Baykova, Nick Johnson, Carlos H. Costa, Jennifer Kurkoski, Ryan B Harvey, Akinola Emmanuel, Jose Arcadio Valdes Franco, Sebastiaan Vleugels, Karl Laius, JY Kang, Abhishek Goel, Heidi Stolt, Nicole Sund, Karlee Finch, Mario Mejia, Denise A Pitts, Doug Henry, Keven Webb, Mihai Sandu, Deepak Iyer, Javid Gozalov, Kyanta Yap, Rebecca Reineke, William Biersdorf, Patricia Alves Panagides, Yvette Mocete, Cyrus Garay, Samuel Barbas, LadyGeek, Marin Kovachev and Penelope Misquitta.

الفئة Education

عرض المزيد

تعليقات - 2592

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@TEDEdlast year We have some exciting news, and we need your support - TED-Ed just launched 5 new channels! If you're a German- (, Hindi- (, Japanese- (, Mandarin- (, or Spanish-speaker (, or if you're looking to practice your language skills, subscribe to these channels! ... 138
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@SimeVidaslast year Me during winter: This is indeed a complicated problem. We should consider all options carefully.
Me during summer: KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL! 9694
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@saumyabhardwaj1408last year I have no ethical dilemma about this: yes 1395
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@santiagosenoran1217last year As a mosquito magnet during summer in Buenos Aires I can firmly say my empathy for mosquitoes is absolutely exhausted and I see it as a small sacrifice if getting rid of mosquitoes means the extinction of nine tenths of fauna on earth. In fact while writing this comment I was bitten by a mosquito ... 807
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@PrinceTaRiGlast year I saw my uncle developing celebral malaria.. he died a week later... if there is a way to simply end these creatures they must just do so without hesitation 😭 338
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@kesler4982last year I live in a tropical state, and mosquitoes are a big problem. you can have hundreds of them in your house at night, and hear a constant loud buzzing everywhere. I ask myself, there is no consequence bad enough to eradicating them other than possibly having more mosquitoes. ... 4480
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@kaarlowslast year My answer before watching: YES!
My answer AFTER watching: Heck Yeah! 2898
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@dt9327last year My only concern before and after this video is. Why haven't we done this already ? 117
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@ShortFuseFightinglast year i hope that one day i'll be able to regale my grandchildren with tales of these "things" we used to have back in my day called "mosquitoes"....and they'll be like "mosq-WHAT?" 78
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@BattleSKY8last year My brother died three months ago. Dengue fever. I'm still so heartbroken I cry myself to sleep on random nights. I miss him. 1088
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@Fallen7Pielast year It's not much of a dilemma anymore. The damage we do trying to control mosquitos every year is insane, removing them from the food chain would be relatively harmless. Every study I've seen on this in the past 10 years has come to that same conclusion ... 1923
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@ana-zb7ixlast year YES!!! Dengue is so serious. Nearly lost my mom to it and there’s no treatment. Prevention is nearly impossible because you keep your house without still water, but your neighbors don’t. You get infected anyway 62
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@TonyC-pq7bplast year I'm in Florida this program was implemented few years back. I can tell you one thing mosquito's are 99% gone. It used to be unbearable to go outdoors without being swarmed today I see none at all. 74
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@omran2507last year yes before watching
edit: after watching the answer is still yes 514
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@joanne3713last year I live in west Africa. To not have to fight malaria and swallow anti malaria tabs multiple times every year would be so awesome😭 522
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@-MostHated-last year This should be used on not only the deadly Mosquitoes. It should also be used on bed bugs, Ticks, and any other insect that poses a threat to humans due to their willingness to bite us and subsequently pass on deadly pathogens. ... 84
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@socialistrepublicofvietnam15008 months ago As somebody who has spent at least a minute in Vietnam, PLEASE WE NEED THIS
my sister is a mosquito magnet and can't go outside without getting 10 bites, and my mother got malaria but thankfully survived 9
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@sunablastlast year Can we please just do this already? Imagine how much better life would be in places like Southeast Asia and Florida 2113
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@earthling_parthlast year I understand the concerns on the food web, but if we can eradicate mosquitoes with only impacting 2 or 3 species, we should take that risk in my opinion but obviously experts can reach a better risk-assessed position. 1025
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@drakejohnson5386last year To me, this is a moral issue. Millions of fellow human beings are killed or crippled by catching malaria. We should always prioritize human lives over all other forms of life. It would be very difficult for someone to go to the places ravished by malaria and say that their lives are less important than their killers. (Or those who carry their killers)
Given that, I do agree that we should research the consequences of a mosquito gene drive. Getting rid of malaria wouldn't be very useful if it causes an environmental collapse that would hurt those who we are trying to help. ... 3
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@jaymwansa1280last year As someone who just recovered from malaria, I just want to know how permanent it is 😅 29
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@emyvrosaleslast year The sterile insect technique is already being applied in the continent! In Ecuador it is for Aedes Aegypti, vector of dengue and yellow fever. Cuba, Argentina, etc are on it too since 2020. 413
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@johnanhmmiiilast year My level of agreement with eradicating deadly mosquitoes after watching the video has gone up to 200%, thank you very much Ted-Ed 😂 367
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@anubhavpal5782last year Need to be implemented imeediately. Have had malaria loads of times in my childhood till my family moved on to a new location where the mosquitos were less but are still there till day. Unable to sleep at night sometimes due to all that buzzing going on around my ears ... 4
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@DutchDesireslast year I recently read an artice about those mutaded mosquitos in the wild. Apparently researchers have already released some of those mutant mosquitos. However according to that article the mosquitos know when a member of their spicies has mutated and will actively avoid them in their quest to mate. ... 4
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@gantagavinlast year Ethical dilemma series is something else: a multidisciplinary, intersection, crisscross and whatnot of various subjects beautifully wrapped into a single video. 770
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@burnin8ablelast year this video is framed around getting rid of mosquitoes as a complex ethical question, but the only concrete questions brought up are food web related questions that effectively boil down to logistical concerns. I don't really see asking questions about second and third order effects of a course of action to be ethics questions at all. the real ethical questions come after the consequences have been established and the question then becomes a comparison between action versus inaction and the consequences of both options weighed against one another. ... 319
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@asheronwindspear552last year My biggest concern would be the wider ecological impactof removing the mosquitoes however if it's only a particular breed then I imagine the population level of less harmful needs will increase and replace their numbers rather than there suddenly being a gap in the food chain. ... 1
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@basiliimakedonas11093 weeks ago In the last 10 years mosquitoes in Greece have gotten thrice as large and survive all year round, even if it has 2 weeks of cold and snow outside and neither the stringers insecticides nor repels affect them in the slightest anymore. If you make their population crash this much I'm afraid what kind of semi indestructible monstrosity will emerge from the remaining 1% ... 2
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@Wunderkind04last year A world without mosquitoes would be heaven on Earth, let's be real. Those summer nights without having to worry about them and constantly swatting around would be so much more relaxing.
However, they are a big source of food for bats, fish, reptiles/amphibians, etc.
Ideally, there would be some way to have them stop targeting humans all together rather than wiping them out, but I doubt there's any way to modify their genes properly for something that specific.
As long as we could find a way to fill in the gap that comes from their loss to keep other animals fed, then I say wipe'm out, lol ... 311
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@dhpzlast year As someone who lives in tropical..
Y E S 117
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@smitias_8474last year Shame that it wouldn't be so effective with ticks. In my region they carry a variety of life ending diseases. Makes you paranoid every time you have to check for them after visiting a forrest since they are so incredibly small. At least it easy to avoid them completely. ... 2
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@hendrixviruslast year Nothing has caused me more suffering in this world than mosquitoes, i will always say yes 6
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@BrendanWoolwinelast year One thing I’ve learned is that nature will fill the gaps. It will not destroy the ecosystem. It just may fix itself in a way that isn’t beneficial or even bad for humans 305
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@GuyInc0gnit0last year The animations in TED-Ed videos are always top notch, but this one especially! Simple, yet intricate and beautiful! 59
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@marc21256last year In places where intensive mosquito control techniques were used, we found that mosquitoes do perform pollination, but when they are gone, pollination is largely unaffected (because other insects or mechanisms fill the small gaps left). They are also replaceable in the food chain.
So the ecological downside to genocide of all biting mosquitoes is zero, or close to it.
The question of whether the gene drive would cross species to other mosquitoes, the mosquito genocides which have been done chemically or mechanically also found that elimination of the entire class of insect didn't have a huge impact. There are generally lots of competing organisms for the small space mosquitoes exist in, so if the entire class was gone, other species would fill in, and no long term effect would be felt.
The downsides are relatively small, and it would save many lives. ...
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@TheDwightMambalast year I have a friend from school that encircled his property with bat-houses.
Going over there in summer used to be like donating blood, but now I barely get stuck. 1
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@sirnikkel6746last year The question shouldn't be "Should we"
It should be "How can we" 59
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@ericvulgatelast year This is for sure going to happen we should start planning for any consequences. 223
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@Eyes0penNoFearlast year I love the idea, but unintended consequences could be terrifying.
"Life finds a way" 2
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@alexandernunezmartinez4948last year I live in Santa Cruz, Bolivia the tropical area of my country and right now we are facing an epidemic of DENGUE a type of many mosquito-borne disease, with 2 thousand cases and more than 5 deaths during last two weeks. 😢
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@Paul-A01last year This wouldn't target every species of mosquitoes, just a particular one that spreads malaria 10
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@rickrolling795last year With their high birthrate, I fear that mosquitoes might adopt or even develop resistance to any eradication method. Never underestimate the power of evolution. 187
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@timotiusyap8787last year it's my dream since childhood...and they began to realizing it...go my friend!
we don't need to apologize to the mosquitoes or something that eats it!!!
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@anupamkatiyar9770last year Well, the quotation in the beginning is hilarious yet insightful.
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@Technoguy3last year Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Yes, but actually yes. 13
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@EvanBreitbecklast year I live in an area infested with Eastern equine encephalitis and when I was smaller I witnessed a horse from the nearby stable dying within days of getting bit. Unbelievably scary, especially when there is no easy way to be cured if a human is bitten ... 33
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@andrewjgrimmlast year In Australia, we have had some bad incidents with biological control, the most infamous being the introduction of the cane toad as biological control. I’m glad the consequences are being evaluated.
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@saimandebbarmalast year That's a very complex question whether we wanna get rid or not? Mosquitoes are actually good for our ecosystems, but the think is we haven't learn how to control or make use of them in a right way or we are making them useless with our actions that which depends on humans whether to get rid or make careful assessment of the potential risk & benifits before destroying them completely.👍 ...
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@theidpboi6205last year as someone who's been serving as a mosquito buffet for most of his life - f yes. I've literally been making jokes about this for years oml 118
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@bbsugarsmurf19last year depends on what eats mosquitoes and what other food sources they have 85
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@LV-qr8frlast year What's unethical is letting poor people in mosquito laden parts of the world suffer when there is a way to resolve the issue. 2
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@danielmanly4793last year The ecosystem is very complex, only our collective hubris would elicit such a question. 2
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@marianocolsin8968last year i did my biology project in this subject 2 years ago and i got the conclusion whe should totally try gene drive to kill harmful mosquitoes. i got a seven. One of my teachers wanted to give a ten and congratulated and even offered to write me a recomendation letter when i decided to enter university. The other one, a older ladie with 3 degrees, gave a 6 and told me my work was really good and it showed how much effort and care i put into it, and that she would never reprove a student for such work, but she also said that my conclusion is wrong and that "sometimes mankind focus more in how to make arms than in how to use them properly". i have to say, the last teachers is one of my favourite teachers of all time ... 23
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@Pro-keshlast year This "dilemma" has been going on for years. I have no faith that we will ever do this 161
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@hewhohasnoidentity4377last year I find it...... interesting..... how a few years ago when Zika was a concern in the US there was a surge in investment and effort to find ways to eradicate mosquitos from the planet.
The next spring when the risk of mosquito linked human disease in the US was back to a normal low, so did the investment in mosquito control. ...
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@jfhucka1last year We can at least remove them from areas where they are invasive like Hawaii. Also I don’t think that there is a huge risk of accidentally wiping them out if done carefully since they have short lifespans, quick reproductive cycles and don’t typically travel large distances ... 22
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@maxor2277last year I am confused as to why this is such a heated question when, if this were in a more developed part of the world (change the script and say those are Americans dying from these diseases) then there would be no hesitation to solve this problem ASAP, especially when the only argument is it might disrupt the ecosystem by removing a species of deadly mosquito from the food web (assuming we went with the population collapse strategy) ... 27
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@minutosdesapercibidosesp-e4508last year What kind of questions is that...? Its mosquitoes, erase them all with fire if need be no one should feel bad 3
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@Constitution1789last year The dilemma of choosing between forcing humans to receive inoculations or intervening with mother nature is a difficult one. Both options carry the risk of adverse long-term consequences. Infringing on an individual's freedom of choice by mandating inoculations only affects humans, but tampering with the natural order of things could have widespread consequences for both humans and other species. Neither option is ideal as it violates free will or the balance of nature. The best solution is to avoid experiments with far-reaching consequences and to minimize the impact of any action taken as much as possible. ...
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@jer103last year Here in Minnesota, we get bad outbreaks of mosquitoes(we have a lot of lakes and rain).
However, in the past few years, we have been getting less rain which led to less mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes lay there eggs in water, so with the changing climate might mean less mosquitos in certain areas. ... 11
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@kakashisensei1114last year One time I had a really bad day, come midnight I'm trying to sleep but can't because of Mosquitoes buzzing and biting me which lead to itching. This went on for around 2 hours until I had a breakdown and literally cried myself to sleep since then I've always hated Mosquitoes. ...
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@b1battledroid98246 months ago I live in India but I actually live in Kashmir which is a cold area so there are few mosquitoes in summer and no mosquitoes in winter and it's quite pleasant like this, I dread living in a place where mosquitoes are all year around since I'm not even used to them ...
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@KurtBoronglast year I had to deal with the pain for years on my right ear when a mosquito went inside. So unforgivable. 7
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@hardikkumar7490last year that animation was trippy 6
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@afterschool2594last year We have products called Baygon in Indonesia and it's actually pretty effective
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@acuritislast year When I was a kid in the LA area we never worried about mosquitos but those invasive Chinese mosquitoes are vicious and spreading fast
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@kshitijbachhav5332last year My heart says absolutely, but they are so prevalent in nature and have been for millions of years that they are a part of our ecosystem so idk. 30
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@stunnaptrpaul1400_last year Woah this is good its actually like a research that's why i love ted ed❤️ 3
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@qrzone8167last year Around 2-5% of people who have ever lived died to malaria. Environmental effects from eradicating mosquitos would happen but studies are pointing towards them not being catastrophic. I would say it is very much worth it
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@S7E_Siriel-Privatlast year I think as soon as any human life can be saved, I'd instantly take the opportunity. Might be reckless in some cases, but in cases like this it would be a no-brainer. But luckyly there are smarter people than me to take such decisions XD ... 1
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@samarah.2945last year The ethical dilemma arises from how much we don't yet know about the sciences...would this gene drive give birth to another kind of sickness which could spread to humans? Hard to say at this stage.
I feel that no matter how many studies are carried out about the side effects, we'll never truly know whether it's worth it or not.
Best to lay all other options on the table...open and creative thinking is needed.
Personally my idea is to see how the environment can be changed to discourage mosquitoes to populate poor and clustered communities. Whether it be through natural insecticide plants or particular natural scents or urban design. Something a little less intrusive....
So much to learn! ... 3
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@vibhorsharma7857last year We have to take in consideration the theories of the butterfly effect and chaos theory. In which small changes can account to large differences. 1
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@chenalindelossantos967last year this is the way to good, not deciding quickly and unaware of the consequences. Research is the fundamental block of Science.
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@ChrisWar666last year I think gene drives etc. definitely need extensive studies about the impact, but, in the meantime, 'encouraging' their natural predators in some form might be interesting.
Unfortunately, my lizard and spiders don't seem to be doing much against the mozzies here 😞 ... 7
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@SmilingBakedBaguette16 hours ago Brazil is right now facing yet another crisis of diseases transmitted by Aedes Egypti. It has already become epidemic. And with the global warming and record number of floods, those mosquitoes are just thriving.
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@LeCattelast year I'd like to see this being tested in controlled experiments over certain areas so we can get a gauge for how bad it might effect the ecosystem but I honestly feel that we are also underestimating nature's ability to adapt. It might not be a bad effect after all ... 4
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@randomstranger_3last year My question is that if mosquitoes were completely eradicated, is there something WORSE that could replace them like, I dunno, other bugs replacing the role of what mosquitoes do but it's doing ten times more harm to humans as a whole? ... 5
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@gamer_dino69ytlast year The mosquitoes aren't too deadly themselves
It's just the parasite 79
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@ghostderazgriz4 months ago We are stopping to think if we should when we should be concerned with whether or not we could.
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@oluwatobigbadamosi2417last year Sounds great. But an ethics committee need to be set up around gene drives. What stops scientists from experimenting with human populations? Is there a possibility of mutations? These are some of the questions that these committee should answer. ...
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@jzakary1last year The emotional detachment of this video could only come from someone who isn't directly effected by Malaria. Issues of ethicacy and the environment get thrown out the window when thousands are dying around you. 6
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@avpaavcomics1299last year We first need an in-depth report of the consequences of the collapse of the population. Since everything is interconnected in a food web, removing something from it might just lead to a crash. On the other hand, scientists should research much more on a perfected cure to the disease, and the biggest ethical question should be answered with this: Should medical services-especially for diseases like malaria- be provided completely free of cost? ... 40
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@danuk500last year On the surface it sounds great. However, what happens if we set in motion a collapse in the ecosystem or other species somehow become sterile? Sounds like there is plenty of potential to do some serious damage if we get it wrong ...
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@lizkhaylin2141last year To: all the people having their doubts
I understand when you ask about possible ecosystem collapse, but from what I’ve heard, many mosquitos are invasive, making removing them even more beneficial. And, if you’re concerned about the well-being of these mosquitos, then take note that it’s basically just keeping them from breeding, and therefore killing the species in a much more humane way. Also, if you just want to keep them buzzing about in your house, then you haven’t experienced an actual bite from one of these monsters. ...
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@GI_Jimbolast year Isn't there a possibility that the malaria virus, if ecologically pressured by a collapse in its host's population, could find a new host that is potentially even a more dangerous transmitter of the disease? 17
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@juicypear327last year Human beings should not mess with things for which the consequences are unknown, especially when they are irreversible. Ecosystems are fragile and just the loss of one or two species can completely disrupt the balance. Extinction is never the solution to our short-sighted self-interests ...
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@aroundandroundlast year Imagine if we overlooked a side effect of eliminating mosquitos and a chain reaction of consequences led to the earth drowning into the sun. On the last day, the ghosts of the mosquitos could be heard singing in a high pitched voice “we told you so”. ... 1
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@jimysk8erlast year I wonder if it would be possible and or effective to have a gene for a softer needle/nose or possibly different feet on mosquitoes that could make praying on humans more difficult. Or a gene that makes them develop a sensitivity to a readily available non toxic aroma like ash or lye or citrus or capsaicin. ... 6
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@bamshares77last year i was lost for a bit because of how captivating the animation was
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@okfine90774 days ago Imagine aliens decide to eradicate humanity because our radio communication waves interfere with their sleep cycle. I don't think we should get to decide whether a species lives or dies based on whether it is convenient for us. ... 1
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@rachelbroughton6457last year Absolutely we should get rid of them. They said it in the first 5 seconds, mosquito’s kill more people than any other animals. The statistics around malaria are just heartbreaking. 5
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@samtheman5555last year As someone from Louisiana: Yes. Damn the consequences. 23
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@abiseniyyalast year At least mosquitoes have some role, like pollenation, so a little dillemma might still makes sense.
Bed bugs, though, is different story. They take and never give back. I don't mind them eradicated.
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@Iammuslimaakter14 hours ago I believe we should focus on helping the mosquitoes. The protozoa use the mosquitoes as a host. It's not their fault. We should make the mosquitoes resistant to these virus and prozoa.