S&S Dinner Dialogues, with Dr. Don Fox - Fighting Disease and Food Supply Sustainability With Genetically Modified Insects
Event Details
Each year, approximately 700,000 human deaths are caused by insect-borne diseases. Insect pathogens also dramatically decrease crop yields, which is an enormous problem given forecasts that worldwide crop production needs to increase by 70% by 2050.
With the advent of precision genetic engineering to produce Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), new strategies to potentially control insect populations are becoming easier to implement. We will discuss how insects can be genetically modified, examples of such modifications in disease control and agriculture, differences in perception of GMO by scientists and the public, and the challenges going forward.
Video & Readings:
- Scientists Release Controversial Genetically Modified Mosquitoes In High-Security Lab – NPR
- Five Things to Know about Genetically Modified (GM) Insects for Vector Control
- What Is Stopping the Use of Genetically Modified Insects for Disease Control?
Prof. Don Fox is Assistant Professor of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology in the Duke School of Medicine
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Where to meet:
Selected attendees will be notified via email several days in advance of the dinner with details regarding meeting location. All dinners will be within reasonable driving distance to Duke campus.
Science & Society will also provide a shuttle for those unable to arrange transportation to the dinner dialogue location. Shuttles will depart 30 minutes before the scheduled event from the front entrance of the North Building on West Campus. Click here for a map.