Scientists have gathered evidence suggesting the discovery of the male determining gene in the mosquito species that carries malaria, according to a study published in PNAS and covered in UCR Today. The discovery of this long-hypothesized gene could assist in the development of tactics to control the transmission of the disease.
To detect the gene, scientists employed multiple genome sequencing techniques, including single-molecule sequencing and sex-specific profiling. They also conducted whole-genome sequencing. They were able to create an extensive dataset of Y chromosome sequences in the mosquitoes and explore their organization and evolution. Researchers found a gene called YG2, which is exclusive to the Y chromosome across the mosquito species complex, which means it could be the male-determining gene.
While the genome of Anopheles gambiae was sequenced over a decade ago, the Y chromosome section was never successfully constructed. The study's results suggest that the complete reconstruction of Y chromosome data from the mosquito genome may soon be possible.
In PNAS, the study's authors write, "Our study provides a long-awaited foundation for studying mosquito Y chromosome biology and evolution."
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