Yaqiong Liu , Ying Fu

Tropical Animal Resources Research Center, Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572000, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Entomology, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0020
Received: 25 Jul., 2024    Accepted: 08 Mar., 2024    Published: 16 Aug., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Liu Y.Q., and Fu Y., 2024, Integrating multidisciplinary techniques in insect structure and function research: current approaches and future directions, Molecular Entomology, 15(4): 162-169 (doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0020)

Research into insect structure and function has historically relied on a variety of traditional techniques, including histology, microscopy, biochemical assays, and classical genetics. However, the complexity of insect biology necessitates the integration of multidisciplinary approaches to gain a more comprehensive understanding. This study explores the application of advanced imaging techniques, such as confocal microscopy, cryo-electron tomography, and X-ray computed tomography, alongside molecular and genomic approaches like next-generation sequencing, CRISPR-Cas9, proteomics, and metabolomics. The integration of computational modeling and bioinformatics, including systems biology, structural bioinformatics, and machine learning, further enhances the depth of analysis possible in insect research. A case study demonstrates the successful application of these multidisciplinary techniques to elucidate specific aspects of insect biology, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of such integrated approaches. Looking forward, this study discusses emerging technologies, potential breakthroughs, and the need for continued interdisciplinary collaboration to address the limitations of current methodologies. This study concludes by emphasizing the transformative potential of multidisciplinary techniques in advancing our understanding of insect structure and function, advocating for their broader adoption in future research.

Insect biology; Multidisciplinary research; Imaging techniques; Molecular genetics; Computational modeling