Mosquito genome opens new avenues for reducing bug-borne disease

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is powerful, plentiful species: It populates six continents, can carry deadly viruses, and bites with abandon. But until recently, its genome was in tatters. For the past decade, researchers attempting to study the mosquito's DNA had only fragments to work with—genetic swatches that didn't come together to form a cohesive whole. However, a recent multi-institutional study, led by Rockefeller scientists, has produced a new blueprint of the Aedes aegypti genome that vastly improves upon its predecessor. The study, published in Nature, describes important applications of this new resource, including multiple strategies for reducing mosquito-borne illnesses.