Insects in Science
& Technology
In Technology
• Insect characteristics are sometimes
mimicked in technology
• Biomimicry: Imitation of biological
systems in nature to solve human
problems
• Biological materials are highly
evolved and organized
• Various materials, structures, and devices have been used by
engineers, material scientists and chemists for numerous industries
Biomimicry
• Nature has been able to solve engineering problems
• Economic impacts of bio-inspired materials is significant
Biomimicry
• Study of birds to enable flight
for first aircrafts
• Flight techniques are inspired
by birds and bats
• Aerodynamics design have also
been based on birds
Insect Flight:
Inspiration
• Wings in bats and birds compared to insects
is an example of convergent evolution
• Similar structures with no common ancestor
• Birds and bats: wings are modified limbs
with muscles attached
Solving Problems:
Namib Beetle
• Climate change has impact on droughts,
innovation needed for water security
• Are native to Namib desert, one of most
arid places on earth, no groundwater
• Understanding this insect could lead to
potential for extracting moisture from air
Solving Problems:
Namib Beetle
• Exoskeleton has bumps with hydrophilic
(water-attracting) tips and hydrophobic
(water-repelling) sides
• Fog winds blow across sand dunes and
moisture in fog condenses on abdomen
• Beetles gather on dune crests
Solving Problems:
Namib Beetle
• Face into the fog wind and tip
abdomen upward
• Grooves on abdomen collect condense
water and direct toward head
• Drink from water droplet that forms
around mouth
Solving Problems:
Energy
• Termites are architects when
designing their nests
• Giant mounds are built with channels
to help with ventilation
• Mounds allow airflow without
overheating
• Used as inspiration to create better
climate control systems
Modern
Architecture
• Building architects made
improvements to internal climate
control through studying African
termite mounds
• Maintain constant temperatures
in very warm places
• High rise buildings that can
incorporate designs are more
sustainable
Eastgate Centre
• Shopping center in Zimbabwe, first building to use
natural cooling technique
• Physical structure enables passive internal airflow
• Achieves controlled climate that is cost and
energy efficient
Eastgate Center
Insects in Science
• Play a huge role in biological research
• The fruit fly, drosophila melanogaster, is a
model organism for studies in eukaryotes
• Widely used in genetics, physiology and
developmental biology
Drosophila
melanogaster
• Drosophila melanogaster is one of the
best studied organisms in genetic
research
• Among the first organisms used for
genetic analysis
• 70% of genes similar to human genome
Model Organism
• Genetic research of D.
melanogaster has resulted
in 8 Nobel prizes
Why the Fruit Fly?
• High fecundity and short generation time allows for
multiple generations to be studied
• Simple genetics: only four pairs of chromosomes and
complete genome sequenced in 2000
• Geographic range is all continents; common in homes
• Easy to identify
Why the Fruit Fly?
• High fecundity and short generation time allows for
multiple generations to be studied
• Simple genetics: only four pairs of chromosomes and
complete genome sequenced in 2000
• Geographic range is all continents; common in homes
• Easy to identify
The Fly Room
• Take up limited room so research can
be conducted in a small space
• Thomas Hunt Morgan was a pioneer in
Drosophila research and conducted
experiments in a small space
• Won the 1933 Nobel Prize for work on
role of chromosomes in hereditary
Modern
Research: GMO
• Availability of genetic tools made
Drosophila melanogaster crucially
important for basic biology research
• Genome editing is possible in insects
through genetically modified organisms
(GMO)
• Motivations include biological research
purposes and genetic pest management
GMO: Pest
Control
• Insert of a lethal gene into an insect will
collapse a population
• Gene multiples throughout generations
• Once action taken there is no way to stop it
Ethical Concerns
• Conservation: Potentially powerful
enough to cause a species to become
extinct
• Once released, effects can take effect
quickly
• Areas of release are not isolated so
lethal genes can move to new areas
Ethical Concerns
• Unintentional dispersal of modified
organisms into non-target ecosystems
• Insects are good at dispersing and
move long distances
• Do not recognize country borders so
all nations must agree to release
Ethical Concerns
Why can’t we just kill all the
mosquitoes?
• Likely the most promising tool for
controlling devastating diseases, misuse
or loss of public confidence may lead to
interference in its future applications
Policy & Regulation
• Policy surrounding genetic control expanded in
recent years, continue to receive attention
• Based on existing environmental risk legislation,
most jurisdictions have regulatory frameworks
• Release of GM insects requires wider
biodiversity and human health assessment
Genetically
Modified Insects
• Gene editing also provides potential plant
diseases in insect vectors and make them
more susceptible to transmit
• Increased research could lead to misuse of
the technology
• Easy use means can be done with DIY kit
Biological Warfare
• Concern for security is potential of
biological or chemical warfare to be used
• Insects have enormous potential for use
as biological weapons
• Can be a direct assault on people or
delivery systems of devastating disease
to agricultural systems or humans
Why Insects?
• Entomological warfare stems
from the ability to rear insects
cheaply and quickly in large
populations
• Can be released on target sites
without sophisticated delivery
systems
Questions?