From the "what could possibly go wrong" department.

Found on Slashdot

"In its just-published patent application for Adapting Parasites to Combat Disease, Microsoft lays out plans to unleash 'altered parasitic organisms' on humans, including mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, bed bugs, leeches, pinworms, tapeworms, hookworms, heart worms, roundworms, lice (head, body, and pubic), and the like. 'Irradiated mosquitoes can be used to deliver damaged Plasmodium to individuals,' explains Microsoft. 'Instead of contracting malaria, an individual receiving the damaged Plasmodium develops an immune response that renders the individual resistant to contracting malaria.' Don't worry about runaway breeding, advises Microsoft — 'a termination feature [that] can include programmed death' makes this impossible. As David Spade might say, I liked this movie the first time I saw it — when it was called Jurassic Park."

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"Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it."-- Mark Twain

"Inter arma silent Musae"--when the weapons speak, the muses fall silent.

An't nanum hearm deth, doth hwaet ye willath.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. -Voltaire

Economic Left/Right: -3.88
Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.36

I presume it's to do with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's anti-malaria work. In which case, yay for those guys - we'd never have got this had it been left up to governments and big pharma alone. Nice to see charity actually doing some good for a change.

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Standard disclaimer: the disgusting statements contained in this post are the views of the poster, and unless specified do not represent the views of the moderators or the site's owners.

Originally Posted by Zichao

I presume it's to do with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's anti-malaria work. In which case, yay for those guys - we'd never have got this had it been left up to governments and big pharma alone. Nice to see charity actually doing some good for a change.

If this is the route they're going to take, i'd rather they didn't.

I lol'd at the "programed death" bit... since they don't live very long to begin with (1-2 weeks) and start breeding soon after they become adults. Seems like a pretty shitty method of delivery, hoping people get bit, especially if you're going to lower their already short adult lifespan in what would likely be a futile effort to limit the effects of some sort disastrous outbreak.

Once its out there its out, and who knows what successive generations of mixed origin would result in.

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Righteousness will always be the trap at the gates of hell

I'm sure all the dying Africans appreciate your concerns.

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Standard disclaimer: the disgusting statements contained in this post are the views of the poster, and unless specified do not represent the views of the moderators or the site's owners.

Originally Posted by Zichao

I'm sure all the dying Africans appreciate your concerns.

Someone's got to look out for the savages.

__________________
Righteousness will always be the trap at the gates of hell

The irony of anything related to Microsoft relying on bugs to do what is needed is awesome!

F

__________________
"Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it."-- Mark Twain

"Inter arma silent Musae"--when the weapons speak, the muses fall silent.

An't nanum hearm deth, doth hwaet ye willath.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. -Voltaire

Economic Left/Right: -3.88
Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.36