The Aedes aegypti genome: complexity and organization

Abstract

SummaryWe describe the use of DNA reassociation kinetics to determine the total genome size and complexity together with the individual complexity and copy number of the single copy, middle repetitive and highly repeated DNA fractions of cell line and larval DNA from the mosquito, Aedes aegypti. The genome of Ae. aegypti is both large and complex, being one third the size of the human genome, and exhibits a short period interspersed repeat pattern. The implications of patterns of sequence arrangement and genome complexities for experiments aimed at isolating specific classes of DNA sequences, such as mobile genetic elements, are discussed.