Genomics and Applied Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 245-254 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 245 Research Insight Open Access Genomic Analysis of Earwigs and Their Ecological Adaptation: From Genome Assembly to Molecular Mechanisms of Environmental Adaptation AnnieNyu The HITAR Institute Canada, British Columbia, Canada Corresponding author: annienyu@hitar.org Genomics and Applied Biology, 2024, Vol.15, No.5 doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0026 Received: 05 Aug., 2024 Accepted: 11 Sep., 2024 Published: 27 Sep., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Nyu, 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. Preferred citation for this article: Nyu A., 2024, Genomic analysis of earwigs and their ecological adaptation: from genome assembly to molecular mechanisms of environmental adaptation, Genomics and Applied Biology, 15(5): 245-254 (doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0026) Abstract The earwig, Forficula auricularia, serves as a significant model organism for studying maternal care, sexual selection, sociality, and host-parasite interactions. Despite its importance, genetic research on this species has been limited due to a lack of comprehensive genomic resources. This study synthesizes recent advancements in the genomic analysis of earwigs, focusing on genome assembly, annotation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their ecological adaptation. High-quality genome assemblies have been developed using advanced sequencing technologies, revealing extensive genetic diversity and adaptive traits. These genomic resources have facilitated the identification of key genes and pathways involved in environmental adaptation, including responses to temperature, humidity, and other ecological stressors. Comparative genomic studies have further elucidated the evolutionary processes and genetic architecture that enable earwigs to thrive in diverse environments. This study highlights the potential of genomic tools to enhance the understanding of earwig biology and their adaptive strategies, providing a valuable foundation for future research in evolutionary ecology and conservation genetics. Keywords Forficula auricularia; Genome assembly; Ecological adaptation; Genetic diversity; Evolutionary processes 1 Introduction Earwigs, belonging to the order Dermaptera, are a diverse group of insects with over 2,000 described species distributed globally, predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions (Kamimura et al., 2023). They are known for their distinctive forceps-like cerci and exhibit a range of interesting biological characteristics, including maternal care, viviparity, and epizoic relationships with other small animals (Liu et al., 2022; Meunier, 2023). Earwigs play significant ecological roles, acting as both pests and beneficial biological control agents in various ecosystems (Meunier, 2023). Their distribution and habitat preferences are influenced by various factors, including climatic conditions and historical biogeographical events, such as the breakup of Gondwana (Fattorini, 2022). Genomic analysis has become a crucial tool in understanding the ecological adaptation of earwigs. The sequencing of mitochondrial genomes has revealed extensive gene rearrangements and intraspecific variations, providing insights into the molecular diversity and evolutionary processes within the Dermaptera (Chen, 2022; Liu et al., 2022). DNA barcoding and phylogenomic studies have further elucidated the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of earwigs, challenging previous taxonomic classifications and highlighting the complexity of their genetic makeup (Wipfler et al., 2020; Kamimura et al., 2023). These genomic studies are essential for understanding how earwigs adapt to their environments, including their roles in pest control and their responses to ecological pressures (Stuart et al., 2019; Núñez-Pascual et al., 2022). This study synthesizes current knowledge on the genomic analysis of earwigs and their ecological adaptation. By examining genome assembly techniques, gene rearrangements, and molecular mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the genetic factors that contribute to the ecological success of earwigs and covers various aspects of earwig genomics, including mitochondrial and nuclear genome sequencing, phylogenetic analyses, and the implications of these findings for taxonomy,
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