I think it's right to be careful - as people have said, there are loads of unforeseen ways it can go wrong. But, if it works, then fantastic! We're not killing a species off (even if they are annoying) but we are gradually reducing its danger. And as for it not having an immediate effect, the fact is that some of the short term solutions we have come up with don't work over the long term - like DDT. What happens when, over the long term, mosquitoes along with other insects have become immune to it? Then what? This is certainly not all the answer but it could definitely be a part.

Sally Bridgewater, Leeds, England

I am afraid they cannot test for everything and there can be effects in the wild they don't expect. Killer bees were also an experiment at one time now they dominate the other bees. Nature isn't something we want to mess with. This drive to genetic modification is going to upset the balance.

Chris, San franscico, CA

The GM mosies may not transmit malaria, but will they be better at transmitting some other bug ?- be cautious folks!

Ayub, Toronto, Canada

If the scientsts have come up with a solution to eradicate malaria the let them carry on with it.
I had malaria whilst serving with the forces in Africa and survived. It was not pleasant. There are of course millions who have died because of it.
Please keep on helping these people.
You never know, it may return to our shores.

r. roerts, teignmouth,

Maybe we could eradicate the menace of mosquito being a problem for humans or animals forever? How about a GM modified mosquito that can only suck nectar but can't pierce skin to drink blood.

all it would require is for their stalk to become weaker or should have less penetrating power? If this new species can dominate the existing one, perhaps malaria, encephalitis etc could be forever eradicated.

Mbawmba, Lagoon, International dateline

With malaria killing one child in Africa every 30 seconds, GM solutions coming in decades is unimportant in the dialogue about what to do about malaria today. There are available solutions today that could reduce malaria to a managable health problem in months rather than decades. Integrated Malaria Management including source reduction for the vector, interior residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide treated bednets to reduce contact between human and mosquito, screening and medication for those infected all driven by decent data to optimise cost effectiveness. Multiple families of insecticides and drug therapy are needed in the mix to reduce build up of resistance ... but good available science can already give the world a solution.

Peter Burgess
Member IMMC: Integrated Malaria Management Coalition

Peter Buress, New York, NY USA

Wow. GM super mosquitoes. What a brilliant idea - surely if this works mosquito populations will boom and cause even more problems down the line. The money would be better spent developing a mosquito repellent that actually works!

Andrew , Reading,

US scientists should be very careful. I hope they have remembered, and learnt the lessons of the great " Fruit Fly " debacle in California.

P May, London, UK

Paul Russell, a former head of the Allied Anti-Malaria campaign, observed that [mosquito] eradication programs had to be wary of relying on DDT for too long as "resistance has appeared [after] six or seven years".

Adam, London, UK

Rhodesia had a superb solution that was effective and worked to the malaria disease but sadly no one listened specially the west.

Mike, Burley-in-Wharfedale, England

Ditto on the DDT thing.

There is also a risk that this new mosquito could have unforeseen impact - for example, be a transmitter of some other disease. We would be in a far worse situation if we found that 70% of mosquitos carried the HIV virus, for example. How can that be assessed? (Remember the unforeseen effects of lead in petrol, CFC's in refrigerators, CO2!) How can the 'inventors' of this be absolutely confident that they have screened for every such risk?

David, London, UK

The greenies will bleat on this one because of the GM link. But they condemned millions to death because of their stupidity concerning DDT so I think that a ban on GM mosquitos will be of no concern to their consciences.

L. Saunders, Edinburgh,

Malaria in the Fens in the 1800's? Minor fact overlooked by the GW sect. Just like the expert in the Channel 4 document claimed. Mosquitos do live in the northern hemisphere and GW has nothing to do with their chosen habitat.

David Thijm, Stourbridge, UK

Vectors of the mosquito would be still out there. I have dissected the mosquito in lab conditions, and seen the larvae dive in a test tube. The parasite Plasmodium falciparum is the real target of any new genetic modification. Reduce its lifecycle, reduce malaria. Therefore reduce waste dumps and poverty. If this works it could be done to target other parasites. Good work all round.

P A B, Grasmere, UK

Here's an idea: just bring back DDT. Its harmless and the liberals who caused it to be banned are responsible for the deaths of millions of children in Africa.

John, Seattle, USA / WA

Not mentioned in the fun facts is the fact that DDT had virtually wiped out malaria at one time, but since DDT was banned due to pressure from pseudo-environmentalists over 93,000,000 people have needlessly died of the disease.
http://www.junkscience.com/malaria_clock.html

Peter Grynch, Chicago, Illinois, USA