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Article: Mothra meets its match; researchers engineer insect-killing viruses. (genetically altered baculovirus used against cabbage loopers)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- September 3, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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If insects had their own tabloids, the headlines these days might read: "Man-made viruses will eat your guts out!" or "Young larvae left paralyzed from supervirus -- human tampering suspected."
Viruses that destroy insects have existed in nature for eons. For more than 60 years, scientists have tried to sic these microbes on crop pests. Viral insecticides, however, rarely pack the punch of their chemical counterparts or compete in the costs arena.
So researchers are tweaking them genetically -- taking out a gene here, adding one there -- hoping to increase their killing power. The new strategy might intimidate even Mothra, the giant moth that attacked ...