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Title: Arthropod genomic resources for the 21st century

Author
item RICHARDS, STEPHEN - Baylor College Of Medicine
item Childers, Anna
item Childers, Christopher

Submitted to: Current Opinion in Insect Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2018
Publication Date: 3/30/2018
Citation: Richards, S., Childers, A.K., Childers, C. 2018. Arthropod genomic resources for the 21st century. Current Opinion in Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.015.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Genome references are foundational for high quality entomological research today. Species, sub populations and taxonomy are defined by gene flow and genome sequences. Gene content in arthropods is often directly reflective of life history, for example, diet and symbiont related gene loss is observed in the pea aphid genome [1], and genic adaptation to a blood diet and associated osmotic pressure is seen in the bedbug genome [2]. Biodiversity population genomics informs on extinction risk, expansion of invasive species, and the population history of species. Molecular and biochemical studies of insects are vastly accelerated by the availability of a reference genome and associated transcriptomics, gene model annotations and predicted protein sequence databases. Transfer of the bounteous research in the genetic model Drosophila melanogaster to other insect species is best performed across orthologous genes and helps define the very essence of an insect [3]. For functional studies, Crispr-Cas9 provides new tools for research and biocontrol unimaginable in the 20th century with such efficacy it demands ethical consideration – for example see [4]. Simply put, genomics is providing comprehensive insight into entomology in an increasingly cost effective manner. In this issue we present reviews celebrating available genome references for selected major arthropod taxa, resulting biological insights, and suggest key species for genome analyses to further accelerate entomological research for the 21st century.