Jennie: IN THIS EPISODE OF ECOSENSE FOR LIVING... >> I THINK PEOPLE, A LOT OF TIMES REFERENCE JURASSIC PARK.

[LAUGHING] RIGHT, IT'S NOT QUITE THAT.

>> THERE'S NO EVIDENCE SO FAR THAT THIS TREE WOULD CAUSE ECOLOGICAL HARM.

BUT, OF COURSE, THE QUESTION OF HOW SURE DO WE NEED TO BE, THAT'S NOT A SCIENTIFIC QUESTION, THAT'S A POLITICAL QUESTION OR A SOCIAL QUESTION.

>> AND YOU PUT A LABEL ON IT, EVERYBODY HAS THE CHOICE TO BUY IT OR NOT.

BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA RELEASE A BUNCH OF MOSQUITOES IN A COMMUNITY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE CHOICE.

♪ ♪ Jennie: A STRANGE TURN OF EVENTS BROUGHT BIOLOGISTS TO GALVESTON, TEXAS, TO UNCOVER THE MYSTERY BEHIND THEIR "GHOST WOLVES."

>> SO, IT'S DARK OUT AND WE'RE TRYING ANOTHER METHOD TO HOPEFULLY SEE COYOTES.

AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR EYE REFLECTIONS TO HAPPEN IN PAIRS AND OCCUR ABOVE SORT OF KNEE LEVEL, AND MAYBE THEY'LL TURN AROUND AND LOOK BACK AND WE CAN VISUALLY IDENTIFY WITH THE FACE THAT THIS IS A COYOTE... ♪ ♪ I HAD MET RON ONLY OVER EMAIL, BECAUSE THERE WAS THIS THREAD GOING AROUND ABOUT SOME CONCERNED CITIZEN IN TEXAS WHO REALLY FELT THAT THEIR COYOTES WERE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> OUR DOG, SCRUFFY, WAS EATEN RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE IKE AND THERE WAS A PACK OF COYOTES, I WENT OVER AND RETRIEVED HIM FROM THE FIELD RIGHT OVER HERE IN JAMAICA BEACH.

AND I SAW 'EM ALL, THEY WERE LOOKING AT ME AND THEY LOOKED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I WAS WRITING FOR A MAGAZINE HERE LOCALLY, AND I THOUGHT I NEEDED TO WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS.

SO I COULD GET IT OFF MY CHEST, THAT MY DOG HAD BEEN EATEN BY 'EM, BUT IT WAS OKAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT 'EM.

THEY HAD LONG EARS, THEY HAD BIG HEADS, THEY HAD BIG EYES, THEY LOOKED MUCH DIFFERENT THAN A RUN OF THE MILL COYOTE THAT I WAS USED TO AS A BIOLOGIST.

I STARTED LOOKING FOR ONES THAT HAD BEEN HIT ON THE ISLAND AND THERE WERE A COUPLE THAT GOT HIT OVER THERE, PRETTY CLOSE TO WHERE THESE ANIMALS WERE PHOTOGRAPHED, SO I TOOK A COUPLE OF SKIN SAMPLES AND I PUT 'EM IN MY FREEZER.

>> RON WAS ADAMANT THAT HE KNEW THAT THESE COYOTES ON GALVESTON WERE DIFFERENT.

AND I FELT THAT I HAD NOTHING TO LOSE AND A LOT TO GAIN BY CONNECTING WITH A CITIZEN.

SO, I COULD DO SOME GENETIC SEQUENCING AND GIVE HIM A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.

>> WE'RE DOING THIS BIG STUDY ON NORTH AMERICAN CANINES, AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY HAD A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RED WOLF ANCESTRY.

>> THE MAN WAS RIGHT.

GOTTA GIVE IT TO HIM.

>> COYOTES AND RED WOLVES ARE DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT SIZES.

IN GENERAL, RED WOLVES ARE BIGGER, THEY SOUND DIFFERENT.

[HOWLING] COYOTES ARE SO VARIABLE.

THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.

THEY CAN EAT ANYTHING.

THEY CAN ADAPT TO THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT THEY'RE IN VERY WELL.

YOU WOULD NOT FIND A RED WOLF IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

IT NEEDS LARGER PREY.

IT NEEDS MORE SPACE.

THE RED WOLF IS AN ENDEMIC SPECIES TO NORTH AMERICA, MEANING IT ONLY EXISTS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

IT ONCE WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE A WIDE RANGE, BASICALLY FROM TEXAS ALL THE WAY TO THE EAST COAST, BUT DUE TO HUMAN PERSECUTION, HABITAT LOSS, DISEASE, COMBINED WITH HYBRIDIZATION WITH ENCROACHING COYOTES, THE RED WOLF SPECIES WAS DECIMATED AND ISOLATED TO JUST ONE REGION IN SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AND EAST TEXAS BY ABOUT THE 1960S, 1970S.

>> SO, BY 1970S IS WHEN THE LAST RED WOLVES WERE SOUGHT OUT ON THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE.

AND ABOUT 14 OF THEM ENDED UP BEING SENT TO THE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO DO THAT, TO REMOVE A LARGE PREDATOR FROM THE LANDSCAPE IN THE UNITED STATES, BREED IT, BASICALLY FORCE ITS EXTINCTION IN THE WILD TO SAVE THE SPECIES IN THE LONG RUN.

>> SO NOW EVERYTHING THAT WE IDENTIFY AS A RED WOLF LIVES IN CAPTIVITY.

THERE'S A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN THE WILD IN NORTH CAROLINA AS PART OF A REINTRODUCTION PROJECT, BUT ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS DESCEND FROM THOSE 14 RED WOLVES THAT STARTED THE BREEDING PROGRAM.

>> WHEN I START A GENETIC STUDY, I'M ASKING ANYONE WHO HAS A SAMPLE TO SEND TO ME, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN COLLECT EITHER A TISSUE SAMPLE OR A BLOOD SAMPLE.

PERFECT.

THAT ONE HAS ALL OF THE INTERNAL DEPRESSIONS.

I'M LOOKING FOR THEN SIGNATURES THAT IDENTIFY THE DNA AS IT BELONGS TO EITHER COYOTE OR RED WOLVES OR GRAY WOLVES OR DOMESTIC DOGS.

AND I CAN COUNT UP BASICALLY THE AMOUNT OF DNA THAT BELONGS TO EACH OF THOSE GROUPS.

>> WHEN WE FINALLY STARTED GETTING SOME OF THOSE GENETIC RESULTS BACK AND STARTED FINDING THAT THE NUMBERS WERE AS HIGH AS 30 OR 40% RED WOLF, IT WAS ASTOUNDING.

WE DO HAVE SOME PRETTY FANCY COYOTES.

DO WE CALL THEM COYOTES OR DO WE CALL THEM GHOST WOLVES OR DO WE CALL THEM RED WOLVES?

>> WHEN DOES A COYOTE TURN INTO A RED WOLF BASED ON THE ANCESTRY PROPORTIONS?

I KNOW THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR OWN ANCESTRY, WE DO LIKE TO HAVE THESE FRACTIONS.

I'M 25% THAT, OR I'M 50% THIS.

THAT DOESN'T CHANGE OUR SPECIES IDENTITY, BUT IT CAN NOW FOR A COYOTE OR A RED WOLF.

>> ARE THEY FANCY ENOUGH TO NOT LEGALLY BE A COYOTE?

AND WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT AND SAY THAT THEY'RE TOO FANCY TO DO ANYTHING BUT PROTECT THEM.

THIS IS NOT A QUESTION THAT WE'RE POSING ONLY IN TEXAS.

>> SO WHEN WE SEE THAT AN ANIMAL HAS 60% THIS, AND 40% THAT, THIS IS A REFLECTION OF REAL WORLD INTERACTIONS AND THEIR LONGER TERM EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.

THIS IS SUCH A BENEFIT TO HAVE THAT VARIATION.

IT REALLY HELPS EVOLUTION OCCUR AND ALLOW THESE SPECIES TO ADAPT TO A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND RESPOND TO CHALLENGES IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

PART OF THE FUTURE THINKING THAT WE HAVE FOR CONSERVATION IS USING BIOBANKING AND CRYOPRESERVATION AS A INNOVATIVE OPTION FOR SAVING A SPECIES.

>> I THINK PEOPLE, A LOT OF TIMES REFERENCE JURASSIC PARK.

[LAUGHING] RIGHT, IT'S NOT QUITE THAT.

BUT THE IDEA IS THAT YOU CAN TAKE A TISSUE SAMPLE FROM A LIVING WILD ANIMAL, IN OUR CASE, THESE COYOTES, AND TREAT IT AND PRESERVE IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IN THE FUTURE, YOU COULD ACTUALLY DEVELOP A CELL LINE FROM IT AND CLONE AND CREATE AN ACTUAL ANIMAL.

AND THIS IS BEING ACTIVELY DONE IN OTHER WAYS FOR CONSERVATION, LIKE THE CLONING OF THE BLACK-FOOTED FERRET.

SO, IT'S THAT'S HELPING THAT SPECIES SURVIVE.

AND SO BY, YOU KNOW, INFUSING MORE GENETIC VARIATION OR CREATING A NEW FOUNDER LINEAGE, YOU CAN REALLY BOLSTER THE LONG TERM ADAPTABILITY OF THE RED WOLF.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COEXISTING WITH THESE COYOTES THAT HAVE THIS HIGH AMOUNT OF RED WOLF ANCESTRY SINCE RED WOLVES WERE REMOVED, RIGHT?

SO PARTICULARLY ON GALVESTON ISLAND, PEOPLE ARE FAIRLY SUPPORTIVE AND THERE'S INTEREST.

THERE'S CONCERN, OF COURSE, ABOUT PETS AND SAFETY AND LEGITIMATE COEXISTENT QUESTIONS THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT.

>> THERE'S NOT ANOTHER STUDY THAT IS TRACKING COYOTES WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY COLLECTING DATA AND MANAGING A FERAL CAT TRAP/NEUTER/ RELEASE POPULATION.

THE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT BETWEEN COYOTES AND FERAL CATS IS AN ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

AND AS THESE TWO SPECIES INTERACT, YOU HAVE THOSE THAT SCREAM FOR COYOTE RIGHTS, AND YOU HAVE THOSE THAT SCREAM FOR FERAL CAT RIGHTS.

AND THERE'S THE INEVITABLE BUTTING HEADS BETWEEN THOSE TWO ISSUES.

>> WITH WILDLIFE IN OUR BACKYARDS, IN AN URBAN SETTING, THE DECISION ON HOW INVOLVED HUMAN MANAGEMENT IS, HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

WHAT'S ALREADY GOING ON, WHAT SITUATIONS TEND TO ARISE?

AND WHAT DO THOSE SPECIES NEED?

>> BY SHARING WHAT WE ARE FINDING, WE'RE ABLE TO PROMOTE A MORE EDUCATED PUBLIC.

AND WHAT I'VE FOUND IS A MORE EDUCATED PUBLIC HAS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO RESPOND TO A COYOTE, MAYBE THROUGH HAZING WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE, OR SIMPLY BY BEING ABLE TO OBSERVE A COYOTE FROM A DISTANCE THAT IS JUST HUNTING RATS IN THE SAND DUNES AND BEING ABLE TO ENJOY THAT NATURAL EXPERIENCE TAKING PLACE.

>> THE COMMUNITY OF GALVESTON HAS SURPRISED ME IN THE MOST AMAZING WAYS.

WHEN I ARRIVED TO GALVESTON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PERSON, I WAS STILL A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE BECAUSE THIS IS HOW I NORMALLY APPROACH A NEW COMMUNITY.

AND I WAS JUST SO WRONG.

I WOULD LOVE TO EAT MY WORDS ON THIS.

I INTERACTED WITH NORMAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAD NO IDEA WHO I WAS, AND I WOULD BE TOLD ABOUT THEIR SPECIAL COYOTES, AND INSIDE, I'M HAVING A SMALL CELEBRATION THAT I'M NOT THE ONE TELLING THEM THAT THEIR ANIMALS ARE SPECIAL.

THEY'RE TELLING ME.

>> WHEN I DO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT WHAT IT IS THEY WITNESSED, WHERE WAS THE COYOTE?

WHAT WAS IT DOING?

WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY ARE EXCITED FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

NOW, NOT EVERYBODY CAN SHARE THE SAME OPINION FOR COYOTES ALONG WITH ANY OTHER TOPIC.

I LIKE CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM, NOT EVERYBODY DOES.

WE'RE IN SOUTH TEXAS AND 12 GAUGE IS A RELIGION.

WE'RE PROBABLY ALWAYS GONNA HAVE PEOPLE THAT RANGE FROM JUST ABSOLUTELY SO EXCITED, SO OVERJOYED, SO CURIOUS TO LEARN EVERYTHING THEY CAN ABOUT THEM.

AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE THAT JUST ARE COMPLETELY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACK AND FIND THEM THE MOST VILE CREATURES TO HAVE EVER WALKED THE EARTH.

BUT SUCH IS THE CASE WITH JUST ABOUT ANY TOPIC, EVEN GOING BACK TO CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM.

PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TRULY DOES CHANGE MINDS.

THERE'S NOT EVER A GOOD TIME TO SAY, "I KNOW IT ALL NOW AND I'M DONE LEARNING."

I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND LEARN AND GET TO SEE SOMETHING NEW.

IT'S THAT DESIRE TO EDUCATE MYSELF AS WELL AS SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO ATTEMPT AT LEAST TO COEXIST WITH THESE ANIMALS.

♪ ♪ Jennie: MOSQUITOES AREN'T JUST ANNOYING, THEY CAN ALSO CARRY DISEASES.

SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING ON WAYS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK.

BUT GENETICALLY MODIFYING THEM HAS RAISED CONCERNS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT ALL MOSQUITOES, IS THAT THE MALES DON'T BITE.

IT'S THE FEMALES, NOT ONLY THAT BITE, BUT TRANSMIT DISEASES.

INSECTS ARE ALWAYS ADAPTING TO WHATEVER YOU THROW AT THEM, RIGHT?

AND SO, WE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN, COULD WE COME UP WITH A WAY OF MANIPULATING THE INSECTS FOR THEIR OWN DEMISE?

Jennie: THERE ARE ABOUT 80 SPECIES OF MOSQUITOES IN FLORIDA.

THE BIOTECH COMPANY OXITEC, WAS TARGETING ONE SPECIFIC BREED OF MOSQUITO.

>> THE WHOLE IDEA FROM OXITEC IS TO ENGINEER MOSQUITOES SO THAT THE MALES, WHEN THEY MATE WITH FEMALES, THE FEMALE WILL HAVE STERILE OFFSPRING.

THE MOSQUITO, AEDES AEGYPTI, THAT'S ITS SCIENTIFIC NAME, IS TYPICALLY CALLED THE YELLOW FEVER MOSQUITO.

AND SO EARLY ON IT WAS REALLY A SCOURGE, AND NOW WE HAVE VACCINES.

BUT IT ALSO TRANSMITS DENGUE, WHICH IS A SPREADING DISEASE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GET AN OUTBREAK AND THE HOSPITALS ARE OVERRUN.

THEY HAD SOME TOWN HALL MEETINGS WHERE OXITEC WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MOSQUITOES.

>> THE PEOPLE FROM OXITEC AND THE MOSQUITO CONTROL BOARD WERE SAYING THINGS THAT KIND OF CAUGHT MY EAR.

AND SO, I ENDED UP ASKING THE CITY COMMISSION TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT REQUIRED THE MOSQUITO CONTROL BOARD TO SHOW WHAT THEIR REGULATORY AUTHORITY WAS.

REASONABLE.

WHAT THEIR REGULATORY STANDARDS WERE, SUCH AS, WHERE CAN THEY RELEASE THESE THINGS; NEXT TO SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, HOSPITALS?

LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR STANDARDS ARE.

AND THIRDLY, WHAT'S YOUR CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

AND THAT WAS 2012.

AND NOW, NOW WE'RE MANY YEARS AFTER THAT THEY STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED TWO OF THE THREE.

>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF INSECTICIDE MOSQUITO CONTROL SPRAYS IS FOR PEST MOSQUITOES DOWN HERE.

AND WE COULDN'T LIVE HERE PROBABLY WITHOUT OUR MOSQUITO CONTROL.

THIS IS THE WILDERNESS THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO LIVE IN.

WE'RE TECHNICALLY THE EVERGLADES.

IT'S LITERALLY ONE MILE FROM HERE THAT WAY.

>> WELL, NOBODY WANTS TO GET SPRAYED.

I MEAN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY DID WAS SAY, THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BEING SPRAYED, ALL THOSE CHEMICALS.

AND THEN EARLY ON, WHEN A FEW OF US, ME, THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA, I SAID, "WELL, YOU CAN SELL THIS AS A BUDGETARY ISSUE BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT SPRAYING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY THE SPRAY.

AND THEREFORE IT'LL REDUCE THE COST OF THE TAXPAYER."

THEN THEY SAID, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE AEDES AEGYPTI IS SUCH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE MOSQUITOES, WE STILL HAVE TO SPRAY WHAT WE WERE DOING IN THE PAST."

IT'S LIKE, BUT YOU'RE SELLING THIS BY TELLING PEOPLE IF WE DO THIS, IT ELIMINATES SPRAYING.

>> THERE ARE OTHER CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.

ONE OF THEM THAT ACTUALLY CONCERNS ME A LITTLE BIT IS THAT THEY BUILT THE STRAIN THAT THEY WERE GONNA RELEASE FROM MEXICO.

AND SO, THEY WERE RELEASING ALL THESE MALES THAT HAD ALL THE GENOME FROM MEXICO, INTO FLORIDA.

TO SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN FLORIDA, IT'S SORT OF LIKE, "WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU'RE BRINGING THIS MEXICAN GENOTYPE INTO THE FLORIDA POPULATION.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?"

THEY WANNA RELEASE ONLY MALE MOSQUITOES.

SO, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS KILLING OF THE FEMALES WORKS PERFECTLY.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE RELEASING A 50 TO ONE RATIO AND EVEN 2% SURVIVE OF THE FEMALES, WELL, YOU'RE RELEASING QUITE A FEW FEMALES.

>> GENETICS IS A VERY NASCENT SCIENCE.

IT'S NOT A VERY DEEP AND LONG HISTORIED SCIENCE.

WE HAVE GENETICALLY MODIFIED MOSQUITOES BEING SPREAD IN THE KEYS.

THEY'RE ENGINEERED TO BE PERFECT.

IF THEY WORKED AS ENGINEERED, WELL THEN PROVE IT.

A: THE EFFECTIVENESS THAT YOU CLAIM THE MOSQUITOES HAVE.

AND B: IT IS SAFE FOR OUR ECOSYSTEMS, WHICH INCLUDE THE HUMANS THAT ARE PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> I WOULD SAY A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS AN IMPORTANT THING.

AND ALSO, I WOULD SAY THAT A LOT OF CASES DEPEND UPON WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL CAN MAKE A CHOICE.

SO, IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME OUT WITH A NEW MEDICINE OR YOU COME OUT WITH A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD PRODUCT AND YOU PUT A LABEL ON IT, EVERYBODY HAS THE CHOICE TO BUY IT OR NOT.

BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA RELEASE A BUNCH OF MOSQUITOES IN A COMMUNITY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE CHOICE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST SOME SOCIAL REACTION THAT, HEY, EVERYBODY'S AFRAID OF GENETIC MODIFICATION.

WE'RE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE.

I AM A HUGE SUPPORTER OF GENETIC ENGINEERING; IT'S DOING WONDERFUL THINGS WHEN USED IN THE PROPER APPLICATION.

IT'S SOLVING SICKLE CELL ANEMIA.

I DON'T PUT IT INTO THE GERM LINE AND GO, "LET ME RELEASE IT INTO THE WILD AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS."

>> THEY'RE SET TO RELEASE MORE IN 2023 BUT THE ONLY INFORMATION THAT'S BEING ANALYZED BY OUR GOVERNMENT IS INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN GIVEN THEM BY THE PRIVATE COMPANY.

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST OF MANY DIFFERENT ORGANISMS AND SPECIES OF GENETIC MODIFICATION THAT WILL BE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

THE UNITED STATES HAS A LOT OF, RESPECT AND IF THEY CAN GET THROUGH OUR REGULATORY SYSTEM, A LOT OF OTHERS WOULD ALLOW IT.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TRYING THEIR BEST AND PUTTING SO MUCH EFFORT INTO DOING THIS.

>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT WORKING WITH GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MOSQUITOES, AND WITH THE BENEFITS THAT THAT COULD BRING, ESPECIALLY IN SOME DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WE IMMEDIATELY HAD CONCERNS THAT WE WOULD BE DOING THIS WORK IN THE SHADOW OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS.

AND SO, WE HAD NUMBERS OF MEETINGS, BRINGING IN THE PUBLIC, BRINGING IN NGOS WHO WERE OPPOSED TO GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS TO SEE WHAT WOULD THEY WANT US TO DO?

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT IN THE WAY WAS, IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS UNIVERSITIES CONSIDERING THIS.

BUT ONCE IT BECAME A COMMERCIAL PRODUCT, THEN THE TRUST DIMINISHED.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF THAT?

LET'S SEE.

TOBACCO, IS IT ADDICTIVE?

DOES IT CAUSE CANCER?

UH, LET'S SEE, BIG OIL.

ARE YOU GOING TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO GLOBAL WARMING?

OXYCONTIN, AH, IT'S NOT ADDICTIVE.

WHY WORRY ABOUT IT?

>> YOU LOSE CONFIDENCE.

>> PEOPLE ARE SKEPTICAL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PROMISED THAT THESE THINGS WOULD BE GREAT, AND THEN THEY DON'T TURN OUT TO BE SO SHINY.

THERE ARE STANDARDS NOW FOR HOW YOU RELEASE A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISM AND ESPECIALLY A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MOSQUITO.

AND THE WHO, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, HAS COME UP WITH DIRECTIVES OF HOW TO DO THAT.

AND I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THE WAY OXITEC DID IT WOULD MEET THOSE KIND OF CRITERIA.

THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO START RIGHT AT THE BASE LEVEL.

BEFORE YOU'VE EVEN DEVELOPED A TECHNOLOGY, START INVOLVING CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO GET THEIR OPINIONS.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA ALL AGREE, BUT PEOPLE WANNA BE HEARD.

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

♪ ♪ Jennie: THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT WAS CALLED "THE REDWOOD OF THE EAST" BEFORE THE BLIGHT.

NOW, HOW FAR SHOULD WE GO TO BRING IT BACK?

♪ ♪ >> THERE ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF THESE MASSIVE TREES WITH AN ENTIRE FAMILY STANDING IN FRONT OF IT AND THEY ARE SO TINY COMPARED TO THIS OVER A HUNDRED FOOT TALL AMERICAN CHESTNUT.

>> THEY CALLED IT THE CRADLE TO GRAVE TREE BECAUSE IT WAS USED FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS, CABINS, FENCE POSTS, OF COURSE, CRADLES AND COFFINS.

THE MAIN RANGE WAS MAINE TO ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.

THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED ONE IN FOUR TREE THAT WAS AN AMERICAN CHESTNUT.

THEY SAY FROM BEES TO BEARS USED THE CHESTNUT.

WILDLIFE WAS VERY DEPENDENT ON IT.

A LOT OF RURAL AMERICANS DEPENDED ON IT.

SO, WHEN THE BLIGHT CAME THROUGH, IT WAS AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME, 'CAUSE IT WAS DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

Jennie: HOW FAST DID IT WIPE THE TREES OUT AND WHO NOTICED IT?

>> IT WAS FIRST NOTICED IN 1904 BY A WORKER AT THE BROOKLYN BOTANICAL GARDENS.

HE RAISED SOME ALARM BELLS, BUT PEOPLE WEREN'T SUPER CONCERNED.

BUT THEN BY THE NEXT YEAR, HUGE SWATHS OF NEW YORK CITY'S CHESTNUTS WERE DYING.

EVERY 10 YEARS, THE BLIGHT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER LIKE CHUNK OF THE RANGE AND KILL MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF TREES.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS TO HIT THE UNITED STATES.

>> THE BLIGHT ONLY KILLED IT TO THE ROOT LEVELS.

SO, THESE TREES ARE STILL OUT THERE.

WE CALL THEM THE GHOST TREES 'CAUSE THEY HAVE SPROUTS COMING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THESE TRUNKS.

SO IT IS ON THE ROAD TO EXTINCTION, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO STOP THAT BY CREATING A BLIGHT RESISTANT TREE THAT CAN HANDLE THE INFECTION WHEN THEY GET THE BLIGHT.

Jennie: TELL ME ABOUT THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CHESTNUTS.

>> THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED TREE HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE 1990.

THEY'VE DONE A VERY THOROUGH STUDY FOR THE SAFETY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS METHOD TO DETOXIFY THE FUNGUS BY INSERTING THIS ONE GENE FROM WHEAT.

Jennie: IS IT CONTROVERSIAL AT ALL?

>> I ACTUALLY JUST GAVE A TALK RECENTLY, AND IT WAS ALMOST SO FUNNY AT HOW THE CROWD WAS DIVIDED INTO THESE TWO GROUPS.

WHERE WE'VE BEEN DOING TRADITIONAL BREEDING WHERE WE CROSS AMERICAN TREES WITH CHINESE TREES AND TRY AND INTRODUCE THOSE GENES FOR BLIGHT RESISTANCE FROM THE CHINESE IN A KIND OF A NATURAL WAY.

AND HALF THE ROOM WAS SO ANGRY AT US BECAUSE HOW DARE WE, WE DILUTE THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT GENES WITH CHINESE GENES, AND THEN THE OTHER HALF OF THE ROOM WAS SO MAD AT US FOR THE GE CHESTNUT.

THERE'S NO PERFECT WAY OF DOING ANYTHING.

AND SO, WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE PUT OUT THERE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND MEETING OUR MISSION OF RESTORING THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT.

>> WHAT WE CALL THINGS MATTERS BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THE WAY THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEM, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEM, AND ALSO HOW THEY'RE REGULATED.

AND SO, GIVEN THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CONTROVERSY AROUND GMOS, ESPECIALLY BY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, I THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING TO STUDY THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED AMERICAN CHESTNUT, WHICH OFFERS AN ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT.

THERE AREN'T CLEAR COMMERCIAL MOTIVES AROUND THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE.

THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ON RESTORING THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE - SCIENTISTS, VOLUNTEERS, CHESTNUT ENTHUSIASTS, THEY'RE MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT CHESTNUT BEING IN UNMANAGED FORESTS, TO BRING THEM BACK INTO THE WILD.

THE SCIENTISTS WHO'VE DEVELOPED THE GENETICALLY-ENGINEERED AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE ARE NOT PURSUING PATENT RIGHTS ON THE TREE, WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY.

I'M A SOCIAL SCIENTIST, SO MY INTEREST IN THIS CASE WAS ABOUT HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS COLLECTIVELY ABOUT THIS NEW KIND OF TECHNOLOGY.

ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS WHETHER THIS TREE COULD CAUSE ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE.

DOES THE GENETIC CHANGE MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO OTHER ANIMALS OR PLANTS IN THE FORESTS?

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE SO FAR THAT THIS TREE WOULD CAUSE ECOLOGICAL HARM.

BUT OF COURSE, THE QUESTION OF HOW SURE DO WE NEED TO BE?

THAT'S NOT A SCIENTIFIC QUESTION, THAT'S A POLITICAL QUESTION OR A SOCIAL QUESTION.

HOW MUCH EVIDENCE DO WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE RISKS ARE LOW ENOUGH THAT IT'S WORTH PLANTING THIS TREE IN OUR FORESTS?

OTHER CONCERNS ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS NATURAL OR WHAT IS WILD?

IT WAS OUR IMPORTATION OF ASIAN CHESTNUTS THAT BROUGHT THE FUNGUS TO NORTH AMERICA.

AND SO, WE'RE, IN A SENSE, RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS TREE GOING FUNCTIONALLY EXTINCT.

AND SO, IF WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IT BACK, EVEN THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, ONE COULD ARGUE THAT THAT'S A RESTORATION OF NATURE, INTO A WILD ENVIRONMENT.

ANOTHER SET OF CONCERNS IS HOW MIGHT THAT PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE TREES THAT WOULD BE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED?

PART OF MY RESEARCH WAS TO ENGAGE NATIVE AMERICANS TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE SCIENTISTS THAT ARE DEVELOPING THIS TECHNOLOGY.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE INTERVIEWED TALKED ABOUT THEIR EXCITEMENT TO TASTE THE NUTS OF A TREE THAT THEIR ANCESTORS HAD EATEN AND USED IN THEIR DAILY LIFE.

OTHER NATIVE AMERICANS SAID THAT THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT INTRODUCING A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ORGANISM INTO FORESTS.

THEY JUST FELT THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING IMPROPER OR WRONG, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND ANOTHER PERSON RAISED A REALLY INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE SAYING, MAYBE THE CHESTNUT WAS MEANT TO GO EXTINCT, AND WE SHOULDN'T INTERFERE.

I THINK IT'S A REMINDER THAT OUR CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON LANDSCAPES, ON NATURE, ON ORGANISMS, ON HISTORY, REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE WAY THAT WE PERCEIVE SOMETHING.

Jennie: ARE THE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CHESTNUTS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL ONES?

>> THIS IS GONNA BE A 99.99% PURE AMERICAN CHESTNUT.

SO, IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE A CHESTNUT.

IT'S GONNA TASTE LIKE A CHESTNUT.

IT'S GONNA BEHAVE LIKE THE CHESTNUT.

WILDLIFE WILL STILL RECOGNIZE IT FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IT'S GONNA BE AN AMERICAN CHESTNUT, BUT IT'S GONNA BE BLIGHT RESISTANT.

>> THIS IS A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS STORY.

SO, WE REALLY HOPE TO BE A MODEL FOR OTHER TREE SPECIES IN PERIL.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE HEMLOCK, THE ASH, THE ELM, THEY'RE ALL UNDER THREAT WITH PATHOGENS, PESTS AND DISEASE.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A DAY WHEN I CAN BRING THE CHESTNUT BACK TO THE WOODS OF GEORGIA AND ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, TENNESSEE, THE CAROLINAS.

I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE THE DAY WHEN THERE'S GONNA BE BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS IN JULY.

AND WHEN WILDLIFE HERE IS EATING THE HARVEST EVERY FALL.

Jennie: I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT WOLVES, ENDANGERED SPECIES.

THEY KNOW ABOUT POLAR BEARS.

BUT SOMETIMES WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THE TREES.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU THAT THEY MIGHT NOT PULL THE HEARTSTRINGS THE SAME WAY A POLAR BEAR MIGHT.

BUT IN TERMS OF A TREE SPECIES, THIS WAS THE KING OF THE FOREST.

PEOPLE LOVED THIS TREE.

AND HOPEFULLY WE ARE CREATING A PLAYBOOK WITH THIS MAGNIFICENT TREE TO HELP OTHER SPECIES IN THE FUTURE.

>> IT'S NOT CRAZY FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.

WE WANT GOOD SCIENTIFIC STUDIES ABOUT THE POSSIBLE ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF A GENETICALLY ENGINEERED AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE, BUT WE ALSO CARE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL AND WHAT THEIR PERSPECTIVE IS.

AND THAT NOT ONLY CAN INFLUENCE THE DESIGN OF THE TECHNOLOGY, BUT IT ALSO CAN BUILD TRUST BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND DEVELOPERS AND BROADER PUBLICS ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES THAT REALLY DO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF WORLD WE WANT.

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