lethal gene
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of lethal gene
First recorded in 1935–40
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The company created a strain of Aedes aegypti—the mosquito species that transmits the Zika and chikungunya viruses—designed to spread a lethal gene and dramatically cut down populations.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 27, 2017
He believes resources would be better spent on other control measures: insecticides, sanitary measures such as eliminating standing water in homes, and even the experimental release of genetically engineered mosquitoes to spread a lethal gene.
From Science Magazine ● Oct. 25, 2016
By the end of 2015, there was a reduction in wild mosquito larvae — as opposed to larvae inheriting the lethal gene — of 82 percent, the company said.
From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2016
The males impart the lethal gene to their offspring which, lacking the dietary supplement to keep them alive, die before adulthood.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2015
When the modified mosquitoes mate with the local A. aegyptimosquitoes, they spread the lethal gene through the population, in theory causing it to crash.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 8, 2011
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