Rapid evolution of reproduction without blood feeding in an invasive vector mosquito
To identify mRNA and miRNA expression differences related to the evolution of autogenous (blood-free) reproduction, we compared a control population of Aedes albopictus that is incapable of autogenous reproduction (NON-AUTO population) with a population of Aedes albopictus that has been artificially selected to reproduce without blood (AUTO population). All samples contain heads of 3-day old females from either the AUTO population or NON-AUTO population.