Abstract
Insects have evolved intricate mechanisms to cope with environmental challenges, particularly during winter when survival becomes precarious. One such mechanism is diapause, a genetically regulated developmental arrest that enables insects to withstand unfavorable conditions. This study investigates the molecular underpinnings of diapause across different insect species and environmental triggers through transcriptome analysis. Eleven transcriptome datasets were analyzed, representing insects undergoing diapause, longer-term cold and short-term cold. This study compares gene expression patterns and explores commonalities and differences in molecular responses to cold response. The results show that the genetic response of insects to cold is a complex mechanism, which cannot be solely explained by whether they enter diapause, the duration of cold exposure, or the biological classification of the insects. The result supports the hypothesis that that species independently evolves their cold response mechanism.
This is a class exercise for REN R 690 (University of Alberta) using modified data. Materials and findings are restricted to the scope of this class.