Frontiers of Genetic Engineering: Cutting-Edge Genome Editing for Silkworms and Honeybees
Keywords:
biotechnological innovations, honeybees, medicine, silkwormsAbstract
Nowadays, entomology is one of the most studied domains due to the pivotal role of insects in ecology, agriculture, the pharmaceutical industry, and medicine. Insects are the most diverse and numerous group of species, and their impact represents a high interest for the scientific community. Due to their well-documented high applicability in various areas, two of the most studied insects are silkworms and honeybees. One of the most important roles of silkworms is their role in medicine and the pharmaceutic industry as bioreactors and model organisms. Honeybees represent the main pollinator for numerous crops and wild plants and present a major contribution to the food chain. Despite their beneficial role in nature and the numerous products obtained from the hive, the bees face several stressors, both biotic and abiotic. The most important progress in this direction has been made by applying genome editing tools to enhance their productivity and agricultural sustainability. Until now, researchers have obtained disease-resistant individuals, limiting the high need for chemical treatments and promoting environmental health. These advancements exhibit progress in biotechnological innovations, including the production of innovative biomaterials for medical applications, underscoring the broad impact of these techniques on the economy, ecology, and medicine.
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