Final answer:
The graduate student should use a Geographic Information System (GIS) to effectively illustrate and analyze patterns of mosquito vector distribution and dengue fever spread, as it allows for the visualization of spatial data and the overlay of multiple datasets to reveal trends and potential transmission hotspots.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a graduate student researching the spread of mosquito vectors and dengue fever into the southern United States, the most suitable application to illustrate patterns of vector and disease spread is a Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS allows for the visualization and analysis of spatial data which is crucial for understanding the geographic distribution of disease vectors like mosquitoes and the incidence of diseases such as dengue fever. By overlaying various datasets, such as vector locations and human infection rates, on a map, GIS can reveal trends and patterns which may highlight potential hotspots of transmission or suggest areas at elevated risk of vector colonization. This, in turn, can guide public health interventions and vector control strategies.
Remote sensing is generally used for observing and measuring the Earth from a distance, mainly through satellites or aircraft, and is less suited for detail-specific studies like disease spread which require granular data. DNA microarrays and DNA fingerprinting are molecular techniques that would be used for analyzing genetic information, which is not directly relevant to geographic spread mapping.