The microarray experiment compared RNA pools from selected vs. unselected mosquitoes, comprising six independent replicates with dye-swaps (12 arrays in total). As each probe was spotted in replicates of four and measurements were obtained for both red and green wavelengths in each array, a total of 96 measurements per probe were obtained. After visual inspection of each array, spot and background intensities were calculated from the scanned array images using GenePix Pro 5.1 software (Axon Instruments). Raw intensities were then analysed with Limma 2.4 software package [27] running in R. Any spot that showed a median intensity in one or both channels at saturation was excluded from the analysis. For each spot background intensities were subtracted (i.e. method = “subtract”) from the total spot intensities and adjusted intensities were transformed into intensity log-ratios and normalised. For the comparison between the two groups, selected vs. unselected, estimates for technical replicates (dye-swaps) were first averaged and then compared between the two groups. A detailed description of the methods used for normalisation and statistical analysis is given in Müller et al.[12] . All microarray data has been deposited in ArrayExpress (accession E-MTAB-52).
In terms of absolute fold change our values are likely to underestimate true fold differences between mosquitoes that would survive an LT50 and those that would not. This is a result of the study design whereby the LT50 survivors were compared with a control group that would be expected to be a mixture of 50% mosquitoes surviving and 50% mosquitoes dying after exposure to 0.75% permethrin. It was not possible to select a fully susceptible control group due to the expected RNA degradation postmortem. The underestimation of fold changes may occur wherever resistant mosquitoes are compared with their parental line. Details of how this study design limits maximum fold change are given in