Method for In Situ Hybridization to Polytene Chromosomes from Ovarian Nurse Cells of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae)

A procedure for in situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes from the ovarian nurse cells of Anopheles gambiae Giles has been developed. This procedure involves a modification of established methods for Drosophila larval salivary gland polytene chromosomes. Treatment of chromosome squashes with xylene followed by slow rehydration provides required resolution of chromosome banding patterns, possibly because fatty contaminants are removed from ovarian nurse cell preparations. Using this procedure, unique DNA sequences from a genomic library of An. gambiae have been mapped on adult mosquito polytene chromosomes. The ability to locate genetic markers on chromosomes will allow correlation of physical and genetic maps. Such maps will facilitate identification of genetic loci and expand our knowledge of the genomic organization of An. gambiae.