Genetic and physical mapping in mosquitoes: Molecular approaches

The genetic background of individual mosquito species and populations withi n those species influences the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens to humans. Technical advances in contemporary genomics are contributing signif icantly to the detailed genetic analysis of this mosquito-pathogen interact ion as well as all other aspects of mosquito biology, ecology, and evolutio n. A variety of DNA-based marker types are being used to develop genetic ma ps for a number of mosquito species. Complex phenotypic traits such as vect or competence are being dissected into their discrete genetic components, w ith the intention of eventually using this information to develop new metho ds to prevent disease transmission. Both genetic- and physical-mapping tech niques are being used to define and compare genome architecture among and w ithin mosquito species. The integration of genetic- and physical-map inform ation is providing a sound framework for map-based positional cloning of ta rget genes of interest. This review focuses on advances in genome-based ana lysis and their specific applications to mosquitoes.