Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

Tracking Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

Image of a mosquito

Topic

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Data Analysis

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Lessons

Level

High School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
14 Users
Share This

Description

This activity challenges students to provide their questions and ideas for experiments they could conduct to investigate the impact of releasing genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild. It accompanies the video Genetically Modified Mosquitoes.

The video describes how scientists at the company Oxitec produced a line of genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes that, when released into the wild, would reduce local mosquito populations.

After watching the videos, students read about the approaches that scientists at Oxitec have used to conduct such experiments. They then use math, descriptive statistics, and line and bar graphs to analyze data from areas in which the GM mosquitoes were released, compared to control areas. As an option, students may also use spreadsheets to analyze and graph the data.

Student Learning Targets

  • Describe an experimental design for measuring the impact that releasing GM mosquitoes has on wild mosquitoes; compare this design to one used by scientists.
  • Use data to calculate several population statistics.
  • Create and analyze graphs to identify patterns.
  • Use evidence to form and support claims and conclusions.

Estimated Time

Two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

Aedes aegypti, average density, genetically modified organism (GMO), mating fraction, ovitrap

Primary Literature

Carvalho, Danilo O., Andrew R. McKemey, Luiza Garziera, Renaud Lacroix, Christl A. Donnelly, Luke Alphey, Aldo Malavasi, and Margareth L. Capurro. “Suppression of a Field Population of Aedes aegypti in Brazil by Sustained Release of Transgenic Male Mosquitoes.” Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Diseases 9, 7 (2015): e0003864. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003864.   

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 08.18.17
Date Updated 08.22.19

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-2; SEP1, SEP3, SEP5

AP Biology (2019)

IST-1.P, SYI-1.G, SYI-1.H, ENE-4.B; SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

3.5, C.5

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 8.15
Learning Objectives & Practices: EIN-3.D, SP1, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

2.5

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.7, ELA.WHST.9–12.1
Math.A-REI.3, Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-IC.1, Math.S-IC.3, Math.S-IC.4; MP1, MP2, MP3

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP1, DP2, DP6

Materials

Educator Materials (PDF) 556 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 354 KB
Student Reading (PDF) 530 KB
Data Tables (PDF) 223 KB
Data Spreadsheet (XLSX) 20 KB

Additional Materials

  • calculator and/or spreadsheet software

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Mosquito-Borne Diseases

Showing of
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
From Birds to People: The West Nile Virus Story
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Stopping Mosquito-Borne Disease
Image of a mosquito biting a human
Scientists at Work
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
Electron micrograph of a mosquito proboscis coated in blood cells
Phenomenal Images
Deadly Straw
Image from the activity showing the mosquito trap components
Lessons
The Mosquito Life Cycle Activity
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Using Wolbachia to Suppress Mosquito Fertility
Computer image of a mosquito transmitting malaria
Animations
Malaria: Human Host
Computer image of malaria
Animations
Malaria: Mosquito Host
Photo of mosquito larvae
Animations
The Mosquito Life Cycle
Illustration of a mosquito with body parts labeled
Labs & Demos
Factors That Affect the Mosquito Life Cycle
Jay bird
Card Activities
West Nile Virus: Vectors and Hosts Game

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Photo of a painted lady butterfly
Lessons
Using CRISPR to Identify the Functions of Butterfly Genes
Photo of a butterfly wing
Lessons
Winging It: Analyzing a Scientific Paper
Image of a mosquito biting a human
Scientists at Work
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
Image of a lizard from the activity
Card Activities
Look Who's Coming for Dinner: Selection by Predation
Image from the activity
Lessons
Blood Glucose Data Analysis
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Visualizing Gene-Expression Patterns
Image of SCNT from the video
Clips
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (Footage)
Computer image of imatinib
3D Models
Gleevec (Imatinib)
Computer image of dasatinib
3D Models
Dasatinib
Illustration of DNA from the video
Animations
Seeing Single Molecules Move
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility