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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #279543
Title: Prospects for gene transmformation in insects

Author
item Handler, Alfred - Al
item O'BROCHTA, DAVID - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Annual Review of Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/1990
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Handler, A.M., O'Brochta, D.A. 1991. Prospects for gene transmformation in insects. Annual Review Of Entomology. 36:159-183.

Interpretive Summary: The ability to manipulate genetic material in vitro and integrate it into a host genome by scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida, has proven to be one of the more powerful methods of genetic analysis, as well as a means to manipulate an organism's biology. In insects,the use of gene transformation is equally significant in its potential to facilitate an under-standing of insect genetics, biochemistry, development, and behavior.A more complete understanding of insect biology would in turn certainly enhance current methods, and promote development of new methods, to manage populations of both beneficial and pest species. Despite the benefits to be derived from gene-transfer, the routine and efficient introduction of exogenous DNA into insect genomes is limited to the genus Drosophila . Although DNA has been integrated into the genomes of three mosquito species (76, 80, 86), this integration has apparently resulted from rare random integration events, and the utility of this method is uncertain.

Technical Abstract: The ability to manipulate genetic material in vitro and integrate it into a host genome has proven to be one of the more powerful methods of genetic analysis, as well as a means to manipUlate an organism's biology. In insects, the use of gene transformation is equally Significant in its potential to facilitate an under-standing of insect genetics, biochemistry, development, and behavior.A more complete understanding of insect biology would in turn certainly enhance current methods, and promote development of new methods, to manage populations of both beneficial and pest species. Despite the benefits to be derived from gene-transfer, the routine and efficient introduction of exogenous DNA into insect genomes is limited to the genus Drosophila . Although DNA has been integrated into the genomes of three mosquito species (76, 80, 86), this integration has apparently resulted from rare random integration events, and the utility of this method is uncertain.