cDNA clones for the esterase (E4) responsible for broad insecticide resistance in peach-potato aphids (Myzus persicae Sulz.) were isolated and used to study the molecular basis of resistance. Increased esterase synthesis by resistant aphids was found to be associated with amplification of the structural gene for the esterase (E4 or its closely related variant, FE4), the degree of amplification being correlated with the activity of the esterase and the level of resistance. Hybridization of the cDNA clones to genomic Southern blots showed that only some of the esterase-related restriction fragments are amplified. Qualitative differences between restriction patterns in different clones of resistant aphids correlated with the presence or absence of a specific chromosome translocation and with production of E4 or FE4.