The Population Genomics of Anopheles gambiae Species Complex: Progress and Prospects

Anopheles gambiae sensu lato is a species complex containing principal malaria vectors such as An. gambiae sensu stricto, An. coluzzii, and An. arabiensis. Numerous studies have shown dynamic species hybridization among member of this complex makes them an ideal model for studying evolution and speciation as well as for applied vector biology. Applying a population genomics approach to the An. gambiae and An. coluzzii species group has led to a number of important and epidemiologically relevant insights including: (1) organization of genomic divergence into “islands of speciation”; (2) competing models of population origin of An. gambiae and An. Coluzzii; (3) description of asymmetric intro…