Diagnostic restriction fragment patterns of DNA from the four isomorphic species of Anopheles dirus

Total DNA from isofemale lines of the four isomorphic species of the Anopheles dirus were screened against twenty restriction endonucleases. Seven enzymes (Ava II, Alu I, Bgl II, Hae III, Hinf I, Mbo I and Sau3A I) produced some unique DNA fragments for each of the lines. Seven other enzymes (BamH I, BstN I, Cfo I, EcoR I, Kpn I, Nru I and Pst I) produced unique fragments in two of the lines. The remaining six enzymes (Hha I, Mnl I, Msp I, Nae I, Rsa I and Taq I) gave vague patterns which might result from either biological or technical causes. The results demonstrated that restriction fragment length of the DNA could be used as a means to distinguish isomorphic species of the Anopheles dirus.