Q 67. Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following?
- Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
- Converting crop residues into packing material
- Producing biodegradable plastic
- Producing biochar from thermochemical conversion of biomass
Correct Answer: Option (a)
- Wolbachia are natural bacteria present in up to 60% of insect species, including some mosquitoes. In the World Mosquito Program’s Wolbachia method, the field teams release male and female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with Wolbachia over a number of weeks. These mosquitoes then breed with the wild mosquito population. Over time, the percentage of mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia grows until it remains high without the need for further releases. Mosquitoes with Wolbachia have a reduced ability to transmit viruses to people, decreasing the risk of Zika, dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever outbreaks. Hence, option (a) is correct.
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