FISH DIGITAL IMAGING MICROSCOPY IN MOSQUITO GENOMICS

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, transmits pathogens that aff ect both humans and livestock, and has been the focus of extensive res earch to identify genetic loci that may be useful in control strategie s. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and digital imaging micro scopy have provided a rapid mechanism to populate the physical map wit h probes derived from genetic markers, cDNAs and recombinant genomic l ibraries. When the physical and genetic linkage maps are aligned, map- based cloning will allow the rapid isolation of target genomic sequenc es. The strategy of FISH mapping and the results of initial hybridizat ion studies are reviewed here by Martin Ferguson, Susan Brown and Denn is Knudson. An Ae. aegypti-specific genomic database, which collates d ata from mapping studies, sequences, references and other relevant inf ormation, is also discussed.