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GSJ: Received Apr. 8, 2007:
http://wbabin.net/saba/saba69.htm
Ingestible Nucleic Acids as Insecticides
James Saba
Waterhouse et al (1) teach living plants which express siRNA as a means of controlling insects.
The present invention describes insect foods which do not comprise a living plant or animal, and which comprise nucleic acids which kill or alter functioning of the insect.
A living plant or animal as defined herein comprises a multitude of different eukaryotic cells. Preferably the plant has leaves, and the animal is a vertebrate.
The insects targeted by the present invention are naturally occurring "in the wild" insects such as ants, bees and flies. It is conceivable that a sham non-living host could be used as a feeding mechanism, and if so, insects which normally feed on living plants or animals could also be targets.
The nucleic acids may be of any size, and may be single or double-stranded DNA, RNA or any modified derivative thereof. While not to limit the scope of the invention, preferred nucleic acids are small bioactive nucleic acids (2) or relatively long dsRNA.
Various methods of including bioactive nucleic acids into the food are possible. For example, purified nucleic acids can be directly mixed into a nutrient broth. Alternatively the nucleic acids could be expressed in microorganisms such as bacteria, and then these microorganisms can be mixed into a nutrient broth. Prior to mixing, the microorganisms may be killed, for example by lysis.
To make the composite insecticide more attractive to insects, other molecules such as pheromones can be included.
In certain circumstances it may be desirable to apply the composite insecticide to plants and animals, such as by spraying.
Importantly, by avoiding genetically engineered plants and animals, the invention is considerably simpler to implement and safer for the environment.
If it should be that the above invention is indeed novel any patentable rights I may have, I freely give away.
It is hoped that others will honor the invention as delineated above and by the following claims.
Claims
2) Claim 1 where the nucleic acids are small bioactive nucleic acids.
3) Claim 1 where the nucleic acids are siRNAs.
4) Claim 1 where the nucleic acids are dsRNAs.
5) Claim 1 where the nucleic acids are synthesized in vitro.
6) Claim 1 where the nucleic acids are synthesized in vivo.
7) Claim 6 where the nucleic acids have been synthesized in a bacteria.
8) Claim 1 wherein the non-living food comprising the insecticidal nucleic acids is applied to plants or animals.
2) Ligand-Conjugated Polynucleotides and
Microarrays of CombinatorialLibraries Thereof.
Saba, J Gen Sci J Jan. 17, 2004, James Saba