transfer of a gene responsible for all of the male characteristics. This discovery was published in the American journal on July 13, 2020. “data-reactid =” 23 “> A team of researchers from Virginia Tech University (United States) succeeded in converting mosquitoes male tigers (Aedes aegypti) into female mosquitoes thanks to the transfer of a gene responsible for all of the male characteristics. This discovery was published in the American journal on July 13, 2020.
Kind of like the human Y chromosome “, explains in a press release Zhijian Tu, professor in the biochemistry department of Viriginia Tech. In the same way indeed, the Y chromosome, transmitted only from father to son, carries the Sry gene responsible for the majority of human male characters. “Data-reactid =” 24 “> The gene in question, called Nix, is located on the M locus of the tiger mosquito (a locus is a fixed position of a gene on a chromosome), or on a gene sequence specific to males and transmitted only to male offspring. “Kind of like the human Y chromosome “, explains in a press release Zhijian Tu, professor in the biochemistry department of Viriginia Tech. In the same way, in fact, the Y chromosome, transmitted only from father to son, carries the Sry gene responsible for the majority of human male characters.
Only female mosquitoes are vectors of disease
The question of sex change in the tiger mosquito is of particular interest to researchers. Indeed, it is only the females who, seeking blood to produce eggs, are capable of stinging and transmitting pathogens that are formidable for humans, such as dengue or Zika. Many methods have already been tested to reduce tiger mosquito populations, such as, which today seems one of the most promising.
For this new study, the researchers created a series of tiger mosquitoes genetically engineered to express the Nix gene, whether male or female. The result: Transgenic females exhibit traits and genetic expression similar to those of male mosquitoes, and are therefore unable to bite.
Gender conversion by the Nix transgene has been shown to be very penetrating and stable over many generations in the laboratory, which means that these characteristics will be inherited for generations to come “, adds in a press release Michelle Anderson, an[…]” data-reactid=”28″>”Gender conversion by the Nix transgene has been shown to be very penetrating and stable over many generations in the laboratory, which means that these characteristics will be inherited for generations to come “, adds in a press release Michelle Anderson, an[…]
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