A current perspective on insect gene transformation

The genetic transformation of non-drosophilid insects is now possible with several systems, with germ-line transformation reported in published and un published accounts for about 12 species using four different transposon vec tors. For some of these species, transformation can now be considered routi ne. Other vector systems include viruses and bacterial symbionts that have demonstrated utility in species and applications requiring transient expres sion, and for some, the potential exists for genomic integration. Many of t hese findings are quite recent, presenting a dramatic turning point in our ability to study and manipulate agriculturally and medically important inse cts. This review discusses these findings from the perspective of all the c ontributions that has made this technology a reality, the research that has yet to be done for its safe and efficient use in a broader range of specie s, and an overview of the available methodology to effectively utilize thes e systems. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.