With the outbreak of the Zika virus earlier this year and the already known fact that some mosquitoes carry life-threatening diseases like malaria, it has raised alarms for people and scientists alike. While the genetic modification of mosquitoes is nothing new, scientists are taking new advanced methods to stop the spread of diseases caused by mosquitoes.

This new potent form of genetic engineering is called a “gene drive.”

Gene drives are sequences of DNA produced in laboratories to be able to copy themselves so that offsprings inherit all of the gene drive. Simply put, the gene drives create an aspired genetic change through the generations. This, like most scientific advancements, comes with the positive and negatives. Usually scientists refrain from allowing genetically engineered beings from spreading their DNA, as to not inadvertently damage the natural world. Yet these gene drives are formed to spread quickly. Genetic engineer Andrew Hammond, described the gene as being “selfish in a population. And in a very short amount of time you can actually transform an entire wild population into a modified population. It's powerful.”

But powerful does not even begin to describe what gene drives could do.

In the interest of doing good for humanity, they are trying to use this technology to wipe out malaria. The main persecutors are the Anopheles Gambia mosquitoes. They have created the gene drive so that almost all of their offsprings inherit mutations that eliminate gene females need to produce eggs. This gives them the capability to eliminate an entire type of mosquito, leaving the ones that don't carry malaria.

Gene drives give scientists access to modify mosquitoes and ticks to eradicate many diseases like Zika, chikungunya and malaria, which is what researchers in California are doing. Some scientists believe that agriculture has the most to gain by using gene drives to modify crops so they will no longer need polluting pesticides.

Kevin Esvelt, a gene-drive researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said, "This is our chance to solve some of the world's most pressing problems using biology.”

On the other hand, unintended consequences are easily produced with this type of technology. Which is what EcoNexis employee, Ricarda Steinbrecher is fearful of: “It is a high-risk technology,” and with the unpredictability and intricacy of ecosystems, removing an entire species could cause the, “collapse of ecosystems.” There is also the potential of misusing the technology to create bio-weapons. The same way they modify mosquitoes for good, they could start biological warfare.

"You could engineer an insect, a stinging insect for example, to deliver a toxin. Mosquitoes would be an obvious possible target. That would be a way that you could weaponize this technology," said ETC Group member Jim Thomas.

Renee Wegrzyn, who is a part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is developing antidotes just in case worst comes to worst.

The Imperial College scientists working with gene drives are taking caution to make sure no modified mosquitoes escape and breed until their safety is established. To decrease risks they are creating a strategy and planning future outreach in Africa for field testing. Tony Nolan said the benefits for public health outweigh the dangers, especially considering that 500,000 people die every year die of malaria, "we've got to weigh up the benefits whenever you consider risks — I think it's a worthwhile goal to investigate this technology."