Contribution to the genetics of the mosquito aedes aegypti
McClelland, GAH;
(1962)
Contribution to the genetics of the mosquito aedes aegypti.
PhD thesis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17037/PUBS.01785922
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The literature relevant to mosquito genetics is first reviewed.
In the present work, 51 different strains of Aedes aegypti have been examined for colour variation in particular. Methods of rearing, handling and routine are briefly described.
Colour of the dorsal abdomen was so variable, that a scheme was devised to classify it, according to paleness, in 37
grades
and
sub-
rades.
These
could
be
assiened
to
15
numerical
colour
values
to
enable
the
paleness
of
a
population
to
be
quantitatively
defined.
Photography
of
variants
was
adopted
as
a
routine.
In
Linkage
Group
I,
two
partially
sex-linked
factors
controlling
eye
colour
and
one
controlling
abdominal
colour
were
isolated,
and
4
linkage
distanoes
determined.
This
is
the
first
example
of
partial
sex-linkage
in
A.
aegypti
and
the
first
three-point,
linkage
estimation
in
any
mosquito.
In
Linkage
Group
II
one
new
mutant
control
ing
thoracic
colour
was
isolated
and
its
recombination
with
the
previously described
s
locus
measured.
At
least
4
mutant
alleles
are
shown
to
occur
at
the
s
locus
sld
one
is
identical
with
a
gene
previously
ascribed
to
another
locus.
Two
new
mutants
were
isolated
in
Lirucage
Group
III
and
the
crossover
distance
of
one
measured
from
the
previously
described
blt
locus
at
which
a
second
mutant
allele
was
isolated.
A
further
three
potentially
useful
mutants
were
obtained
and
other
variation
mentioned.
The
variation
in
abdominal
colour
in
39
strains
is
described
and
discussed.
The
frequency
of
genotypes
in
populations
polyworphic
for
an
s
allele
suggests,though
not
significantly,
some
degree
of
heterosis.
Hybrids
were
successfully
obtained
between
three
pairs
of
Stego
yia
species.
The
relationship
between
A.
aegypti
and
A. mascarensis,
one
of
the
two
crosses
giving
fertile
hybrids,
is
discussed
more
fully.
A
number
of
gynandromorphs
and
intersexes
is
also
recorded.