DNA in situ hybridization on polytene chromosomes of Simulium sanctipauli at loci relevant to insecticide resistance

Abstract

A DNA technique for in situ hybridization developed by Kumar and Collins (1994) for use on polytene chromosomes of adult Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) was modified for use with Simulium larval salivary gland chromosomes (Diptera: Simuliidae). Cloned fragments of several Simulium genes (coding for aspartate amino transferase, cytochrome P450 and DNA polymerase) were successfully mapped physically by assigning specific band locations in Simulim sanctipauli V. and D. This represents the first attempt at locating genes beyond the resolution of linkage to inversions in any blackfly species.