Mouses Vineyard
b'Martha\\u2019s Vineyard has a Lyme disease problem. Now a scientist is coming to town with a possible fix: genetically engineered mice.\\nAn island associated with summer rest and relaxation is gaining a reputation for something else: Lyme disease. Martha\\u2019s Vineyard has one of the highest rates of Lyme in the country. Now MIT geneticist Kevin Esvelt is coming to the island with a potential long-term fix. The catch: It involves releasing up to a few hundred thousand genetically modified mice onto the island. Are Vineyarders ready?\\n\\n\\nKevin Esvelt makes the case for engineered mice, at a public meeting at a Vineyard public library.\\n(Photo: Annie Minoff)\\n\\n\\n\\xa0\\n\\n\\nKevin Esvelt takes questions from the Martha\\u2019s Vineyard audience. (He\\u2019s joined by Dr. Michael Jacobs and Dr. Sam Telford.\\n(Photo: Annie Minoff)\\n\\n\\n\\xa0\\n\\n\\nBob, Cheryl, and Spice (the lucky dog who gets a Lyme vaccine).\\n(Photo: Annie Minoff)\\n\\n\\n\\xa0\\n\\n\\nNo lack of tick-repelling options at a Martha\\u2019s Vineyard general store.\\n(Photo: Annie Minoff)\\n\\n\\n\\xa0\\n\\n\\n(Original art by Claire Merchlinsky)\\n\\n\\n\\xa0\\nGUESTS\\nKevin Esvelt, Assistant Professor, MIT Media Lab\\n\\xa0\\nFOOTNOTES\\n\\nRead Kevin Esvelt\\u2019s original paper describing the gene drive mechanism in eLife. Less technical descriptions available here via Scientific American, and here via Esvelt\\u2019s Sculpting Evolution Group.\\nWatch Kevin\\u2019s July 20, 2016 presentation on Martha\\u2019s Vineyard (Unfortunately there is no direct link. Search \\u201c7.20.16\\u201d to find the video, titled \\u201cPreventing Tick-Borne Disease.\\u201d)\\nListen to Kevin Esvelt talk about gene drive on Science Friday.\\nRead about Oxitec\\u2019s proposed mosquito trial in Key West, and watch the public meeting excerpted in this episode.\\nLearn more about Kevin\\u2019s lab, the Sculpting Evolution Group.\\nLooking for more information about Lyme disease? Here are resources from the CDC.\\n\\n\\nCREDITS\\nThis episode of Undiscovered was reported and produced by Annie Minoff and Elah Feder. Editing by Christopher Intagliata. Fact-checking help by Michelle Harris. Original music by Daniel Peterschmidt. Our theme music is by I am Robot and Proud. Art for this episode by Claire Merchlinsky. Thanks to Science Friday\\u2019s Danielle Dana, Christian Skotte, Brandon Echter, and Rachel Bouton.\\n\\xa0\\nSpecial thanks to Joanna Buchthal, Bob Rosenbaum, Dick Johnson, and Sam Telford.'