A new era in the study of gene functions

Abstract

Historically, many different animals were used as genetic model systems, but later, efforts focused on very few animal taxa, such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster among insects. This is due to practical considerations such as the existence of a short generation time, the availability of offspring all year round, and the easy, uncomplicated keeping. Furthermore, the joint sharing of knowledge, techniques, and resources gained in one species lead to strong synergies. This is especially true of techniques for gene function studies, which are usually difficult to establish. Now, new technologies allow studying gene function in other species, too, opening up new opportunities in science and ecological pest control. Evolutionary questions on gene function can be asked, biological processes not found in the fruit fly can be studied, and genes present in most animals, but lost in D. melanogaster can be examined. Thus, the new techniques open the way to new methods of species-specific pest control like the sterile insect technique, gene drive and RNAi.