Monitoring transgenic mosquitoes using wing measurements and I3S Classic

Abstract

AbstractStress responses in insects can manifest as changes in size, shape and symmetry of the wings. Developing methods to measure and track such features could act as an early warning indicator of adverse events or, if all is well, provide assurance that field or laboratory colonies were fit, healthy and developing optimally. This is especially important in the case of newly developed transgenic insects, to assess morphology and as an indicator of their fitness. As body size and symmetry is known to be a significant correlate of fitness, the potential of transgenic insects is reflected in their phenotypic expression. Microsoft Paint and Photos as well as I3S Classic were used. The wings of transgenic mosquitoes DSM 1 & 2 were measured and compared to those of the parent population Anopheles gambiae G3. The right and left wings of both sexes were assessed to determine if they were symmetrical. Measurements indicated high wing symmetry in all the groups and sexes tested, indicating that the transgenic mosquitoes should be just as functional as their parents. The transgenic mosquitoes DSM 1 & 2 were found to be significantly larger in length and width than the parent population A. gambiae G3 and could be distinguished from the parent strain using I3S Classic software with 70 to 100% accuracy. I3S Classic ranked the correct sex of the test strain predominantly in the initial ranks indicating the differences in architecture of male and female wings. I3S Classic software was also used to assess wing symmetry. In keeping with the data from taking measurements, the software indicated that the wings were highly symmetrical, both the right and left wings of the correct strain were selected in the early first and second ranks in roughly equal measure. The importance of assessing the morphological characteristics of insects and of taking measurements during the investigative procedure was discussed.