Malaria breakthrough?

Malaria is not much of an issue in the US but in many parts of the world it is the biggest health issue. Foreign travelers can easily take anti-malarial pills for short periods of time but for those living in infested areas, it's not possible. The pills are only to be used for a couple of months and even then, they're expensive. There may be hope for this problem though they will still have to confirm that the new mosquitoes don't cause another problem.

The Independent:

However, a new study has shown that it is possible for GM mosquitoes to rapidly pass on malaria-blocking genes to wild mosquitoes with the help of a second gene that spreads the GM trait within the sperm-producing cells of male mosquitoes.

The plan is to physically attach the synthetic gene, called the homing endonuclease gene, to an anti-malaria gene and insert the entire genetic construct into male GM mosquitoes released into the wild. The endonuclease gene should then ensure that nearly all the sperm cells produced by these GM males will carry the anti-malaria trait into the next generation of mosquitoes.

Without the endonuclease gene, only half of the GM male's sperm will carry the malaria-blocking gene, as expected from the normal 50:50 ratio rule of classical Mendelian inheritance. This severely limits the ability of GM mosquitoes to outbreed and outnumber their wild cousins, whereas the endonuclease gene causes the trait to spread rapidly through the wild population of mosquitoes.