Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026
09:37
Topical Application Bioassay to Quantify Insecticide Toxicity for Mosquitoes and Fruit Flies
Published on: January 19, 2022
7.1K
Transgenerational effects of insecticides-implications for rapid pest evolution in agroecosystems
Kristian Brevik1, Leena Lindström2, Stephanie D McKay3
1Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
Current Opinion in Insect Science
|May 17, 2018
Summary
Insecticide resistance in pests may be driven by epigenetic modifications, not just genetic changes. These environmentally influenced changes can be passed down, impacting pest evolution and adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Environmental toxicology
- Genetics
Background:
- Pesticide use is a primary driver of insect pest evolution, leading to insecticide resistance.
- Mechanisms of insecticide resistance evolution are not fully understood, particularly the role of non-genetic factors.
- Epigenetic modifications, which alter gene expression without changing DNA sequence, are heritable in arthropods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the hypothesis that epigenetic modifications play a role in the rapid evolution of insecticide resistance.
- To review evidence for transgenerational inheritance of insecticide-induced effects.
- To discuss the responsiveness of epigenetic modifications to pesticide and xenobiotic stress.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on epigenetics and insecticide resistance.
- Analysis of evidence for heritability of epigenetic marks across generations.
- Examination of studies showing pesticide-induced epigenetic alterations.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests insecticide-induced effects can be inherited across generations.
- Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, are demonstrably heritable.
- Pesticide and xenobiotic exposure can induce responsive epigenetic changes.
Conclusions:
- Pesticides may drive insecticide resistance evolution through epigenetic processes.
- Epigenetic priming by pesticides could enhance pest tolerance to other environmental stresses.
- Understanding epigenetic roles is crucial for developing novel pest management strategies and comprehending anthropogenic impacts on pest evolution.
Related Concept Videos
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
48.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.4K
01:54Convergent Evolution
33.1K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
33.1K
01:24Eukaryotic Evolution
42.3K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
42.3K
02:31Synteny and Evolution
3.8K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.8K
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
8.2K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
8.2K
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
3.7K
3.7K