Genetics - Theses

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The genetics of resistance to lufenuron in Drosophila melanogaster

Bogwitz, Michael R ( 2005-02)

The rise of large scale agriculture in the 20th century created the need for effective strategies to control insect pests. Treatment with chemical insecticides has been a weapon of choice, but the inevitable evolution of resistance has followed in many insect species. Resistance represents a major challenge, not only for agricultural production, but also for environmental preservation and human health. Two major options for resistance have been identified, and these are target-site based and metabolic-based resistance. Much insecticide resistance research focuses on identifying these mechanisms through genetic and molecular analysis. The insecticide lufenuron is the focus of this study. It belongs to a novel insecticidal group called the insect growth regulators, which were introduced in 1970s as highly selective insecticides with low vertebrate toxicity. Resistance to lufenuron in the non-pest species Drosophila melanogaster has been observed in field populations, despite the lack of field usage of lufenuron (Wilson & Cain, 1997; O’Keefe, 1997). This study has taken advantage of this phenomenon to investigate resistance mechanisms in natural populations. At least two detoxification mechanisms were identified. (For complete abstract open document)