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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2005 Publication Date: 12/18/2005 Citation: Allen, M.L. 2005. Fluorescene characteristics of insect biological control agents. Meeting Abstract. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Fluorescent genetic markers are used to verify transformation and study genetics in many organisms. In some transgenic mosquitoes, fluorescence can be detected visually in the egg, larval, pupal, and imaginal stages. In other transgenic mosquitoes the fluorescence is detectable only in pupal and adult stages; this limitation is an effect of the tissue-specific promoter sequence. In transgenic screwworms fluorescent expression is detectable only in the egg and larval stage because pupae and adults have opaque cuticle. When an insect is evaluated as a transformation subject species, wild type specimens must be examined for any inherent fluorescence at those life stages likely to be examined. Appropriate life stages have translucent cuticle and can be immobilized for fluorescent microscopy without sacrificing the specimen. Fluorescence microscopy images of the egg stage of two biological control agents, the lacewing and the big-eyed bug, are presented. |
