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Eradicating Mosquitoes using Translocations: a First Field Experiment

Abstract

THEORETICAL considerations have led to the assumption that chromosomal translocations with ensuing semisterility could be used to control pests1–3. Inversions could have the same effect in animals and plants in which crossing over occurs in both sexes4. Many translocations of different type and with various degrees of sterility have been produced in the mosquito Culex pipiens5–8. Preliminary laboratory experiments with these translocations have shown that a cage population can be diminished and finally exterminated after a few generations by the release of translocation heterozygotes into the population9.

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LAVEN, H., COUSSERANS, J. & GUILLE, G. Eradicating Mosquitoes using Translocations: a First Field Experiment. Nature 236, 456–457 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/236456a0

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