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Ecological Risk Assessment Of Transgenic Conditional Lethality Systems For Genetic Biocontrol Strategies, Fernan Rodrigo Perez-Galvez

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Genetic strategies of insect pest control are receiving increased interest due to recent advances in genetic engineering. By introducing alleles that make males functionally sterile, genetically modified (GM) insects can be used in area-wide pest management programs similar to the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Genetic control strategies carry several potential benefits, including improved efficacy and specificity, lower operation costs, and reduced dependence on chemical insecticides, but their use is still controversial despite extensive technical documentation indicating their innocuity to humans and the environment. This hesitation is likely due to the novel nature of the approach.

While the first field applications …