The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides namely, temephos and propoxur respectively, on the life history of Anopheles stephensi Liston (Culicidae) under laboratory conditions. The late third instar larvae of the mosquito were exposed to sublethal concentrations of temephos and propoxur at LC(10), LC(30) and LC(50), respectively, and adult survivors were evaluated for fitness parameters. Sublethal effects were also evaluated in subsequent generations. Fecundity, egg hatchability, sex ratio, adult longevity and morphology of gonads were the end points studied and compared to the untreated control. Adverse changes in developmental traits were mainly observed in fecundity, egg hatchability and sex ratio. However, significant differences in adult longevity were observed in the insecticide-exposed population. Pleiotropic effects through prolonged larval duration and enhanced longevity of adults were observed. Morphology of gonads in the insecticide-exposed population was severely affected and is represented by rudimentary and atrophied testes, and the size of the vas deferens was very much reduced when compared to that of the control. In another set of experiments, circadian rhythm (for pupation and adult emergence) of LC(10), LC(30) and LC(50) values to abovementioned insecticides exposed to late third instar larvae was studied. Pupation and adult emergence rhythms were found to be disturbed with an increase in concentrations of insecticides when compared to that of untreated control.

The genome information is offering opportunities to manipulate genes, polygenic characters and multiple traits in plants. Although a number of approaches have been developed to manipulate traits in plants, technical hurdles make the process difficult. Gene cloning vectors that facilitate the fusion, overexpression or down regulation of genes in plant cells are being used with various degree of success. In this study, we modified gateway MultiSite cloning vectors and developed a hybrid cloning strategy which combines advantages of both traditional cloning and gateway recombination cloning. We developed Gateway entry (pGATE) vectors containing attL sites flanking multiple cloning sites and plant expression vector (pKM12GW) with specific recombination sites carrying different plant and bacterial selection markers. We constructed a plant expression vector carrying a reporter gene (GUS), two Bt cry genes in a predetermined pattern by a single round of LR recombination reaction after restriction endonucleasemediated cloning of target genes into pGATE vectors. All the three transgenes were co-expressed in Arabidopsis as evidenced by gene expression, histochemical assay and insect bioassay. The pGATE vectors can be used as simple cloning vectors as there are rare restriction endonuclease sites inserted in the vector. The modified multisite vector system developed is ideal for stacking genes and pathway engineering in plants.

Aedes aegypti is an important vector for Dengue and Dengue hemorrhagic fever. Considering its medical importance and its relevance as a model system, this study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of different doses of gamma radiation for three generations of A. aegypti. Two to three days old virgin males of A. aegypti were irradiated with 15 doses of gamma radiation, ranging from 1 to 50 Gy and were immediately mass mated with the same aged virgin females. Observations were made for changes on their life history traits, particularly fecundity, hatchability, adult emergence, sex ratio and longevity, for three generations. Adult males exposed 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 Gy doses showed a significant decrease in fecundity in F0 generations. While hatchability was observed to have decreased with increasing radiation doses from 3 Gy onwards in the F1 generation, samples irradiated with 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 Gy maintained significant decline in hatchability in their succeeding generations, F2 and F3 also. Similarly, a decline was observed in adult emergence from 3 Gy onwards in all three generations. A male favoring sex ratio distortion was observed at the doses of 35, 40, 45 and 50 Gy in all three generations. Following exposure to 4 Gy, parental males and the resultant progeny showed increased longevity by 10.56 and 8.66 days respectively. Similarly, the F1 generations of samples irradiated with 30, 35 and 40 Gy exhibited an increase in longevity by 7.16, 7.44 and 6.64 days respectively. Dose response curve for fertility among the three generations was drawn and presented. The effect of radiological exposure on the life history traits of A. aegypti varies with dose for the three generations studied. These results have potential implications in mutational studies and risk assessment and also contribute to a better understanding towards employment of the sterile insect technique in A. aegypti, plausibly paving the way to an effective mosquito genetic control program.