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Got Blood?

The Evolution of Human-Biting Preference in Mosquitoes

By Gary H. Laverty

Got Blood?


 

Abstract

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the major vector for transmission of numerous viral diseases, including yellow fever, dengue, and now, Zika. Interestingly, different subspecies of A. aegypti are known to exist in close proximity but with considerable genetic divergence between them. One major difference between a "forest" form and a "domestic" form is a strong preference in the latter subspecies for human over non-human blood biting. This difference was explored with genetic and neurophysiological approaches by a research group at Rockefeller University and published in a 2014 paper in Nature. This flipped case study uses parts of the Nature paper to focus on elements of the scientific method as well as evolutionary questions raised by the difference in biting preference between the two subspecies. Students prepare for class by watching a video that provides background information about the published study that forms the basis for the case. In class students then work in groups to develop a hypothesis, predictions and proposed experiments to test the idea of different biting preferences.

   

Date Posted

12/19/2016

Overview

Objectives

  • Develop a hypothesis based on observations.
  • Distinguish between a hypothesis and a prediction.
  • Understand the defining criteria of the biological species concept.
  • Connect the ideas of genetic variation between populations, subspecies, and speciation.
  • Use cartooning to illustrate a set of experiments and methods from a primary research article.
  • Interpret data and understand the use of measures of variance (e.g., SEM) from published figures.
  • Critically analyze an experimental result and identify potential pitfalls or sources of ambiguity in an experiment.
  • Understand how to design experiments to test a hypothesis.

Keywords

Aedes aegypti; A. aegypti; mosquito; evolution; human biting preference; biological species concept; scientific method; speciation; genetics;

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Evolutionary Biology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Analysis/Issues, Journal Article, Directed, Discussion, Interrupted, Flipped

 

 

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