Advances in insect physiology and endocrinology through genomics, peptidomics, and related technologies1Introduction to the virtual symposium on recent advances in understanding a variety of complex regulatory processes in insect physiology and endocrinology, including development, metabolism, cold hardiness, food intake and digestion, and diuresis, through the use of omics technologies in the postgenomic era.

Abstract

This series of the Canadian Journal of Zoology brings together scientists actively working on insect physiology and endocrinology in this postgenomic era. This issue is timely and appropriate. Timely, because of the pace of change brought about by genome projects, functional genomics and genetics (omics technologies), including gene microarrays, mutations, RNAi, and sophisticated mass spectrometry techniques, which are helping to unravel complex regulatory processes. Appropriate, because Canada, and the Canadian Journal of Zoology, has a rich history and strong tradition of cutting-edge research in insect biology—with particular strengths in insect physiology and endocrinology. The first review illustrates how these very modern omics technologies can be embraced and applied to insect physiology and endocrinology, and the subsequent reviews illustrate this in practice, with regard to insect cold hardiness, insulin signaling and stress, peptidergic control of food intake and digestion, endocrine control of diuresis, and finally allatoregulatory peptides. These reviews set the scene and context for the exciting era that we find ourselves in, and the depth of understanding that has come from this postgenomic revolution.