Information on OX513A(My1)
OX513A(My1) is a bisex RIDL strain, which means that both female
and male insects die unless supplied with the supplement, which in
the case of OX513A(My1) is the antibiotic tetracycline.
Released bisex RIDL insects and their progeny die within a few
weeks so releases must be sustained to maintain the control.
Source: Oxitec (see developer field above).
Information on the Release of Insects carrying a Dominant
Lethal (RIDL) technology
Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal (RIDL) is a method
using recombinant DNA technology to create genetically modified
insects for biological control. The dominant lethal gene kills the
insects but it can be repressed by an external additive, which
allows the insects to be reared in manufacturing facilities. This
external additive is commonly administered orally, and so can be an
additive to the insect food. The insects can also be given genetic
markers, such as fluorescence, that make monitoring the progress of
eradication easier.
There are potentially several types of RIDL, but the more advanced
forms have a female-specific dominant lethal gene. This avoids the
need for a separate sex separation step, as the repressor can be
withdrawn from the final stage of rearing, leaving only
males.
These males are then released in large numbers into the affected
region. The released males are not sterile, but any female
offspring their mates produce will have the dominant lethal gene
expressed, and so will die. The number of females in the wild
population will therefore decline, causing the overall population
to decline.
Using RIDL means that the males will not have to be sterilized by
radiation before release (as done with the "Sterile Insect
Technique" (SIT) using radiation), making the males healthier when
they need to compete with the wild males for mates.
Source: Wikipedia (see link below).
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