Biological Control
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- OXFORD UNIV INNOVATION LTD
- Publication Date
- 2008-05-15
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling the population of an organism. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Methods of biological control are known for insects and plants. One method currently employed for the control of insect populations is termed the “sterile insect technique” (SIT), also known as the “sterile insect release method” (SIRM). In this method, sterile males are released into the environment, wherein they compete with the wild-type (fertile) males for mates. Females which male with sterile males produce no offspring, and fee release of large numbers of sterile males, therefore, leads to a decrease in the size of the next generation. In this way fee size of the wild population is controlled.
[0003] SIT requires some mechanism for insect sterilisation. In addition, SIT commonly also employs separation of males from females, with the release of only one sex. This is desirable is the case of an agricultural pest, such as the medfly, where the female...