Genetics and the origin of a vector population: Aedes aegypti, a case study

Thirty-four population samples representing the worldwide distribution of the mosquito Aedes aegypti were analyzed for variation at 19 to 22 enzyme-coding genes. A multivariate discriminant analysis revealed that the genetic differences among populations in six geographic regions and between two subspecies enable one to determine the regional origin of a population. Such studies of population genetics may have quite general applicability in studying vector-borne diseases.