About this Research Topic
Insects (i.e., the class Insecta) represent a super diverse group of animals, with more than five million potentially recognized species in the world fauna. This group is characterized by an enormous array of various types of chromosome structure and function, i.e., regular vs. polytene, or monocentric vs. holokinetic (= holocentric) chromosomes, canonical vs. inverted, or chiasmatic vs. achiasmatic meiosis, etc. However, many pathways of karyotype evolution in insects are partly or entirely unknown. In addition, recent studies demonstrate that insect chromosomes are much more diverse in terms of function and molecular structure than it was supposed just a few years ago. Previously, most developments in this field occurred by using routine chromosome staining, chromosome morphometry, and traditional banding techniques, but the application of molecular methods to cytogenetic studies shed new light on the evolution of insect chromosomes.
The main task of this Research Topic is to bring together new studies aimed at understanding the evolutionary changes of the chromosome structure and function within different taxa and lineages of insects. Various modern techniques, such as chromosome staining with base-specific fluorochromes, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence hybridization (FISH), chromosome microdissection, genomic and epigenomic analyses, etc., are widely used today in evolutionary cytogenetic studies. A combination of these methods with traditional techniques, like chromosome morphometry or conventional bandings, on one hand, and study of the genome size or DNA structure, on the other hand, may have a synergistic effect on the outcome of the research. In particular, investigations of the mechanisms and evolutionary roles of chromosomal rearrangements and modifications of meiosis are recently gaining momentum. The origin and evolution of specific features of karyotypes, including sex chromosomes, heterochromatin, spatial chromosome organization, and supernumerary elements, are also among the rapidly developing topics. Parallel transformations and reversals are common in the process of insect karyotype evolution, and phylogenetic analysis of the karyotypic change is therefore indispensable. This analysis must involve robust phylogenetic reconstructions based on independent characters, i.e., comprehensive molecular and morphological data.
All contributions on the topic of evolutionary and comparative cytogenetics of various insect lineages and taxa can be considered. However, reports on the karyotype structure of single species are unlikely to be accepted for publication, at least unless they are put into an appropriate evolutionary context. In addition, studies demonstrating substantial but previously unknown chromosome diversity within certain groups as well as those representing a combination of various methods, are preferred. We particularly encourage submissions involving contemporary cytogenetic techniques, modern advances in the field of image acquisition and analysis as well as a thorough discussion of the existing and arising concepts of chromosomal evolution in the class Insecta. As far as specific types of manuscripts are concerned, Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Opinion articles are especially welcome.
The main task of this Research Topic is to bring together new studies aimed at understanding the evolutionary changes of the chromosome structure and function within different taxa and lineages of insects. Various modern techniques, such as chromosome staining with base-specific fluorochromes, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence hybridization (FISH), chromosome microdissection, genomic and epigenomic analyses, etc., are widely used today in evolutionary cytogenetic studies. A combination of these methods with traditional techniques, like chromosome morphometry or conventional bandings, on one hand, and study of the genome size or DNA structure, on the other hand, may have a synergistic effect on the outcome of the research. In particular, investigations of the mechanisms and evolutionary roles of chromosomal rearrangements and modifications of meiosis are recently gaining momentum. The origin and evolution of specific features of karyotypes, including sex chromosomes, heterochromatin, spatial chromosome organization, and supernumerary elements, are also among the rapidly developing topics. Parallel transformations and reversals are common in the process of insect karyotype evolution, and phylogenetic analysis of the karyotypic change is therefore indispensable. This analysis must involve robust phylogenetic reconstructions based on independent characters, i.e., comprehensive molecular and morphological data.
All contributions on the topic of evolutionary and comparative cytogenetics of various insect lineages and taxa can be considered. However, reports on the karyotype structure of single species are unlikely to be accepted for publication, at least unless they are put into an appropriate evolutionary context. In addition, studies demonstrating substantial but previously unknown chromosome diversity within certain groups as well as those representing a combination of various methods, are preferred. We particularly encourage submissions involving contemporary cytogenetic techniques, modern advances in the field of image acquisition and analysis as well as a thorough discussion of the existing and arising concepts of chromosomal evolution in the class Insecta. As far as specific types of manuscripts are concerned, Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Opinion articles are especially welcome.
Keywords: Chromosomes, Comparative Cytogenetics, Entomology, Evolution, Karyotypes
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
