Transporting the Marker Gene re (Red Eye) into a Laboratory Cage Population of Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), Using Meiotic Drive at the MD Locus

Abstract

An attempt has been made to use the meiotic drive gene MD to transport a marker re (red eye) into a laboratory population of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The experiment produced an increase in re frequency, but also indicated that this gene has unexpectedly high fitness in the laboratory. The need for field estimates of fitness is indicated.