Genetics of white eye in the mosquito Aedes togoi

Abstract

The white-eye mutant (w), isolated in the mosquito Aedes (Finlaya) togoi, a vector of various species of filariae, is recessive and fully penetrant; this spontaneous mutant can be distinguished from other eye-colour mutants throughout its life cycle. Linkage studies by two-, three-, and four- point backcrosses revealed that the w allele was linked to the p (pigmented pupa) allele in linkage group 2 and the recombination units varied from 31·2±3·0 to 47·4±1·2, and that p was linked to ca (cut antenna), as reported earlier, with recombination units of 34·7±2·1 to 35·9±2·0. This and previous studies suggested the gene sequence as ca—(eight units)—ru (ruby eye)—(30 units)—p—(over 40 units)—w; the total length of linkage group 2 thus far measured is roughly 80 map units. The w allele was epistatic to ru.