Ebook: Molecular Approaches to Fundamental and Applied Entomology

Insects as a group occupy a middle ground in the biosphere between bacteria and viruses at one extreme, amphibians and mammals at the other. The size and general nature of insects present special problems to the study of entomology. For example, many commercially available instruments are geared to measure in grams, while the forces commonly encountered in studying insects are in the milligram range. Therefore, techniques developed in the study of insects or in those fields concerned with the control of insect pests are often unique. Methods for measuring things are common to all sciences. Advances sometimes depend more on how something was done than on what was measured; indeed a given field often progresses from one technique to another as new methods are discovered, developed, and modified. Just as often, some of these techniques find their way into the classroom when the problems involved have been sufficiently ironed out to permit students to master the manipulations in a few laboratory periods. Many specialized techniques are confined to one specific research laboratory. Although methods may be considered commonplace where they are used, in another context even the simplest procedures may save considerable time. It is the purpose of this series (1) to report new developments in methodology, (2) to reveal sources of groups who have dealt with and solved particular entomological problems, and (3) to describe experiments which may be applicable for use in biology laboratory courses.

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The fruit fly Drosophila has been a major research organism in the molecular revolution that has swept through all areas of biology over the last two decades. Profound new insights into general mechanisms underlying animal development, behavior and evolution have emerged from Drosophila research. Only recently, however, have molecular biologists turned their attention to the many insect pests that plague agriculture and public health worldwide. This book reviews and extends the spectacular research progress with Drosophila and surveys the exciting early results and vast potential of exploiting molecular biology to control pest insects. Topics covered include: - the molecular genetics of insect meiosis, tissue differentiation, sex determination and biological rhythms; - the molecular basis of insect resistance to chemical insecticides and the development of alternative, genetically engineered microbial insecticides; - molecular tools for studying insect systematics and population biology; - gene cloning techniques and prospects for genetically engineering insects of economic importance. Molecular Approaches to Fundamental and Applied Entomology will be of interest to entomologists, cell and molecular biologists, and students and researchers in agriculture, plant science, and public health.

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The fruit fly Drosophila has been a major research organism in the molecular revolution that has swept through all areas of biology over the last two decades. Profound new insights into general mechanisms underlying animal development, behavior and evolution have emerged from Drosophila research. Only recently, however, have molecular biologists turned their attention to the many insect pests that plague agriculture and public health worldwide. This book reviews and extends the spectacular research progress with Drosophila and surveys the exciting early results and vast potential of exploiting molecular biology to control pest insects. Topics covered include: - the molecular genetics of insect meiosis, tissue differentiation, sex determination and biological rhythms; - the molecular basis of insect resistance to chemical insecticides and the development of alternative, genetically engineered microbial insecticides; - molecular tools for studying insect systematics and population biology; - gene cloning techniques and prospects for genetically engineering insects of economic importance. Molecular Approaches to Fundamental and Applied Entomology will be of interest to entomologists, cell and molecular biologists, and students and researchers in agriculture, plant science, and public health.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Drosophila as a Tool for Investigating the Molecular Genetics of Insecticide Resistance....Pages 1-37
Naturally Occurring Insecticidal Molecules as Candidates for Genetic Engineering....Pages 38-89
Genetic Engineering of Baculoviruses for Insect Control....Pages 90-127
Insect Viruses: New Strategies for Pest Control....Pages 128-163
Molecular Methods for Insect Phylogenetics....Pages 164-221
Molecular Population Genetics of Drosophila ....Pages 222-266
The Regulation of Cellular Pattern Formation in the Compound Eye of Drosophila melanogaster ....Pages 267-291
Molecular Genetics of Sex Determination in Drosophila melanogaster ....Pages 292-328
Molecular Genetics of Complex Behavior: Biological Rhythms in Drosophila ....Pages 329-356
Molecular Analysis of Insect Meiosis and Sex Ratio Distortion....Pages 357-406
Strategies and Tools for Extending Molecular Entomology Beyond Drosophila ....Pages 407-450
Prospects and Possibilities for Gene Transfer Techniques in Insects....Pages 451-488
Back Matter....Pages 489-498

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The fruit fly Drosophila has been a major research organism in the molecular revolution that has swept through all areas of biology over the last two decades. Profound new insights into general mechanisms underlying animal development, behavior and evolution have emerged from Drosophila research. Only recently, however, have molecular biologists turned their attention to the many insect pests that plague agriculture and public health worldwide. This book reviews and extends the spectacular research progress with Drosophila and surveys the exciting early results and vast potential of exploiting molecular biology to control pest insects. Topics covered include: - the molecular genetics of insect meiosis, tissue differentiation, sex determination and biological rhythms; - the molecular basis of insect resistance to chemical insecticides and the development of alternative, genetically engineered microbial insecticides; - molecular tools for studying insect systematics and population biology; - gene cloning techniques and prospects for genetically engineering insects of economic importance. Molecular Approaches to Fundamental and Applied Entomology will be of interest to entomologists, cell and molecular biologists, and students and researchers in agriculture, plant science, and public health.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Drosophila as a Tool for Investigating the Molecular Genetics of Insecticide Resistance....Pages 1-37
Naturally Occurring Insecticidal Molecules as Candidates for Genetic Engineering....Pages 38-89
Genetic Engineering of Baculoviruses for Insect Control....Pages 90-127
Insect Viruses: New Strategies for Pest Control....Pages 128-163
Molecular Methods for Insect Phylogenetics....Pages 164-221
Molecular Population Genetics of Drosophila ....Pages 222-266
The Regulation of Cellular Pattern Formation in the Compound Eye of Drosophila melanogaster ....Pages 267-291
Molecular Genetics of Sex Determination in Drosophila melanogaster ....Pages 292-328
Molecular Genetics of Complex Behavior: Biological Rhythms in Drosophila ....Pages 329-356
Molecular Analysis of Insect Meiosis and Sex Ratio Distortion....Pages 357-406
Strategies and Tools for Extending Molecular Entomology Beyond Drosophila ....Pages 407-450
Prospects and Possibilities for Gene Transfer Techniques in Insects....Pages 451-488
Back Matter....Pages 489-498
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