Revealed -- Mosquito genes that could be controlling the spread of killer viruses

Dolly submitted, created time 1 year 6 months (www.eurekalert.org)

This study is the first of its kind on the newly-sequenced genome of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also published in this week's Science. The researchers identified over 350 genes which are involved in the Aedes mosquito's immune system, and discovered that they evolve much faster than the rest of the genes in the genome. Identifying which of these key genes are implicated in the transmission of viral diseases is an area of future research that could lead to new ways of combating these diseases

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: Mosquito genes viruses transmission

Genetic Code of Deadly Mosquito Cracked

Scarlett submitted, created time 1 year 7 months (www.sciam.com)

Aedes aegypti is the mosquito that is the scourge behind outbreaks of the deadly yellow, dengue and even chikungunya fevers that kill thousands of people in Africa, South America and Asia every year. Now an international consortium of researchers has sequenced the majority of the Aedes genome, offering hope that specific genes can be identified that would allow scientists to combat these tropical diseases in their carrier.

1 comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: Aedes aegypti mosquito genes mosquito

Mosquito genes explain response to climate change

athena submitted, created time 1 year 8 months (www.biologynews.net)

"University of Oregon researchers studying mosquitoes have produced the first chromosomal map that shows regions of chromosomes that activate – and are apparently evolving – in animals in response to climate change. "

Submit comment | Blog It | Email It | Keywords: mosquito chromosomal map climate change mosquito genes