[CWuestefeld]

From TFA:

the gene drive isn't ready for use in the field. Doublesex is so central to insect sex determination that every species we have looked at has a version, and the ones in closely related species are similar enough that the gene-drive construct could potentially hop species. While targeting other mosquitos might not be a terrible thing, we probably want to have a clear idea of potential issues before releasing anything like this into the wild.

[JamesBarney]

Yeah, but this has to be weighed against the fact that every year we wait a half a million African children die.

[aaron_m04]

OK, but can you even guarantee an upper bound on the damage of this gene drive getting out of control? For all we know, it could result in even more lives lost. We would be so screwed if, for example, all insects became extinct.

[JamesBarney]

How would this happen? Insects are very different genetically, and can't even come close to cross breeding, which is how the gene drive is spread.