The US military is investing in New Zealand's research into gene technology to wipe out predators.

The military has given multi-national group Genetic Bio Control of Invasive Rodants, or Gbird, $6.5 million.

They want to spend the money here, on trials of genetically modified rats.

Auckland University conservation biologist Dr James Russell said their interest isn't surprising.

"They don't want to use it for nefarious reasons, they want to be the first ones to use it to prevent other foreign militaries from being the ones to use it first."

Dr Russell thinks we may see genetically modified mosquitoes in five to ten years but genetically modified rats are still decades away.

LISTEN ABOVE AS DR JAMES RUSSELL SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING