Fellow half-bakerists, good evening. As I speak to this great
nation
of ours that is the Half-Bakery, I sit here wounded, lanced,
skewered
by a mosquito, right on the bum, and it made me think: why not
get
those little critters to be a bit more symbiotic? Here's the current
deal: I get
stung by a mosquito, mosquito gets fed, I get a sore
bum. No wonder we hate them. Ah, but imagine my joy if I knew
that every time I was bitten by a mosquito, I got a free
vaccination?
Think of the possibilities: millions of people need injections every
year, many people are terrified of needles. Most people don't
even
notice a mozzy bite until after it's done.
In some places of course, bug bites can be very serious.
Mosquitoes, ticks and the like carry dangerous diseases. Why not
get the carriers to carry something more useful?
The vaccine might be gene-spliced into the DNA of mosquito
saliva,
or the anti-coagulant element of the injected fluids, such that it is
introduced at very low levels, safe enough for human immune
systems to deal with it and thus provide a vaccination.
For 'developed' countries, no more tedious trips to get pre-holiday
shots. For developing countries, no more long queues for vital
injections. As long as there is a ready supply of biting bugs, the
problem is covered. Finally, Scotland could find a valid purpose
for
midges.
OK so maybe it might require a bit of buggy genetic engineering,
which some people might object to, but imagine what could be
achieved if we had mosquitoes that could deliver a vaccine
against,
well, you name it; Tuberculosis, Ebola, Malaria, Measles... I've
not
heard of this being done and can't find anything on the interworld
about it.
I do apologise for this not being the most amusing item the half-
bakery has ever produced. However I feel that here is an idea
that I
have most carefully half-baked in mine own uninformed mind, and
if
we can find someone(s) with the requisite nollidge base, it could
actually go some way towards raising our profile to new levels of
half-assed noodling with forces beyond our control, or at least,
intellect, to that with which we can become a respected force for
good in the world.
We are the ideas people, people. Let those of deeper thought
take
our demented musings from here, thence to make the world the
better place we crave, with justice, auspice, lettuce and more
Smarties for all. Please add your own nuggets, currants and bits
of
orange peel to enhance the furtherance of this, my most
secondary
of offerings, wot I offer up to thee. In anticipation, I thank you.