The current invention provides vector constructs that are pre-programmed to self-terminate or self-remove at a predetermined time and methods of making the same. The present invention further provides methods for creating organisms containing these vector constructs. Also provided are various transgenic organisms with the vector constructs, including plants, insects, and mammals.

A system for controlling population of a biological species includes a population of genetically-modified individuals of the biological species, where both males and females in the genetically-modified population carry two mutations. The first mutation is a repressible genetic mutation that results in death of a juvenile individual of the first sex when the juvenile individual of the first sex comprises the repressible lethal mutation and is reared in the absence of a repressor or causes an individual to be sterile when reared in the absence of a repressor. The second mutation is an underdominant genetic mutation.

A method of producing a transgenic silkworm that spins bagworm silks and producing a large quantity of bagworm silks by transgenic technology is developed and provided. A gene encoding a modified bagworm Fib H and a transgenic silkworm in which the gene is introduced, wherein the gene is obtained by cloning a gene fragment encoding a bagworm Fib H-like polypeptide comprising a partial amino acid sequence of bagworm Fib H, and fusing the gene fragment to a gene fragment encoding silkworm-derived Fib H, are provided.

The invention relates to a box (10) for growing larvae, comprising: a rectangular base (12); lateral walls (14) extending from the base (12), forming a flat closed contour parallel to the base (12), and defining a growth container together with the base (12); a rim (16) extending from the upper edges towards the exterior of the container parallel to the base (12), the rim (16) comprising two first reliefs (26) on its surface opposite the base (12), and having four edges (18, 20) which are connected to one another by four corners (22); at least four feet (24, 25) with the same height extending at least partly from the rim (16) towards the base (12), the feet (24, 25) extending from different edges (18, 20) or from different corners (22), at least two of the feet (24) facing the first reliefs (26), and comprising a second relief (29) which is complementary to the said first relief (26); the first reliefs (26) fitting together with the second reliefs (29) of a superimposed box (10); the feet (24, 25) being supported against the rim (16) of a box (10) below; the height being at least 8 cm greater than the depth of the container.

A method of making sterile diploid organisms includes mating a first population and a second population of single knock-in diploid organisms, wherein the first population of single knock-in diploid organisms are heterozygous organisms expressing a first marker inserted into a gene required for fertility, wherein the second population of single knock-in diploid organisms are heterozygous organisms expressing a second marker inserted into the gene required for fertility, wherein introduction of the first/second marker disrupts expression of the required fertility gene creating a first/second mutant allele of the gene required for fertility, and wherein the first and second markers are distinct; sorting offspring produced from the mating based on their expression of the first and/or second markers; and isolating the sterile diploid organisms, wherein the sterile diploid organisms are heteroallelic diploid organisms expressing the first marker in the first mutant allele and the second marker in the mutant second allele.

Provided herein is a next-generation highly-efficient technology that can be used for biocontrol of D. suzukii and/or Aedes aegypti. The composition and technique termed precision guided SIT (pgSIT) functions by exploiting the precision and accuracy of CRISPR to simultaneously disrupt genes essential for either female viability or male fertility. It utilizes a simple breeding scheme requiring two homozygous strains—one expressing Cas9 and the other expressing double guide RNAs (dgRNAs). A single mating between these strains mechanistically results in synchronous RNA-guided dominant biallelic knockouts of both target genes throughout development, resulting in the complete penetrance of desired phenotypes in all progeny. This document provides methods and compositions relating to producing such insect eggs, insects, insect populations and uses thereof in reducing a wild-type insect population, along with methods and materials for producing genetically modified progeny of D. suzukii and/or Aedes aegypti.

The invention provides a splice control module for sex-specific splicing and expression of a gene of interest. In certain embodiments, a dsx-based splice control module is used to express a lethal gene in an insect that is spliced in a sex-specific manner to impart lethality to female insects but not male insects.

The invention provides methods for identifying modulators of mitochondrial function for therapeutic use in neurodegenerative disorder. The invention provides method for identifying subjects who may benefit from the therapeutic agents. Aspects of the methods include administering MIRO1 reducer to a subject having Parkinson's Disease. Also provided are companion diagnostic assays to determine if a subject is suitable for treatment with a MIRO1 reducer, and treating the subject in accordance with the results.

Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Aspects of the methods include administering Miro1 reducer. Also provided are reagents and kits for practicing the subject methods. In some embodiments, a method is provided for reducing undesirable levels of Miro1 in a cell having depolarized or otherwise damaged mitochondria. In some embodiments the cell is in vivo, e.g. in an animal model for PD, in an individual diagnosed with PD, in a clinical trial for treatment of PD, and the like.

Herein is described a method devised to cryopreserve mosquito eggs, viable upon subsequent thawing. The method reproducibly yields >25% hatched first instar larvae of Anopheles-species mosquitoes from cryopreserved eggs. The majority of hatched larvae continue to develop normally (87% pupation), through to adults (98%, 50% of which are female) which subsequently blood feed and produce viable second generation embryos that also develop normally. Adult mosquitoes obtained from cryopreserved embryos are able to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes and produce salivary gland sporozoites in similar numbers to control mosquitoes.