ARS | Publication request: WHAT CAN GENOMICS AND THE OTHER "-OMICS" CONTRIBUTE TO ARTHROPOD MASS REARING AND QUALITY CONTROL?

Submitted to: Arthropod Mass Rearing and Quality Control Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 14, 2003
Publication Date: July 14, 2003
Citation: Coudron, T.A., Yocum, G.D. 2003. What can genomics and the other "-omics" contribute to arthropod mass rearing and quality control? [abstract]. Arthropod Mass Rearing and Quality Control Workshop. p. 18

Technical Abstract: New technologies enable scientists to measure alterations in global gene expression patterns among living organisms and that capability holds promise of providing information that is valuable to insect mass rearing efforts. A short-term goal for the application of these technologies is the development of molecular markers that can be used to evaluate the health and performance of insect colonies. A long-term goal is to use the biomarkers to accelerate the rate at which we enhance the health of insects in culture and the performance of insects used as biological control agents. The immediate challenge is to integrate the new technologies into a research process that will result in useful biomarkers. Because an insect is capable of compensating for some physiological or environmental stimuli, not every stimulus will result in a net change in the expression of a gene or protein. Additionally, biological and technical variations, as well as rigorous dataset analyses can complicate this type of work. However, the potential for developing universal probes that are rapid and sensitive indicators of the health and performance of insects warrants an investigation into the exploitation of global gene expression patterns.