关键词: 昆虫, 基因组； 环境适应性, 进化； 群体基因组学； 比较基因组学； 泛基因组学

Abstract: The rapid advancement of sequencing technologies has greatly facilitated the application of genomics and multi-omics approaches in studying the mechanisms of adaptive evolution in species. Owing to their short life cycles and high reproductive rates, insects have emerged as ideal model systems for investigating environmental adaptative evolution mechanisms. In this article, we summarized the developmental context of genomics in evolution biology and then discussed the unique advantages of insects in evolutionary mechanism research. We further focused on reviewing the applications and recent advances of comparative genomics, population genomics, pan-genomics and gene-editing technologies in deciphering the molecular basis of insect environmental adaptation, including insecticide resistance, migration and dispersal, and cold tolerance. These aspects are illustrated through the following key examples: the CYP9A and glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene clusters associated with insecticide resistance in Helicoverpa armigera, the resistance mechanisms of Spodoptera frugiperda to the Vip3A insecticidal protein, as well as the global distribution and dispersal pathways of its “rice” and “corn” strains, and the population evolution and adaptive differentiation mechanisms of major agricultural pests in China, including Chilo suppressalis, Ostrinia furnacalis and Agrotis ipsilon. Despite of these advances, current studies remain limited by insufficient genomic resources for non-model insect species and by incomplete understanding of epigenetic regulation. The relatively slow development of telomere-to-telomere (T2T) complete genomes and pan-genomes, together with inadequate integrative analyses across multiple omics layers, hampers the construction of coherent regulatory frameworks that connect genetic variation, transcriptional regulation and adaptive phenotypes. Looking forward, the systematic integration of multi-omics datasets, coupled with the development of advanced functional validation approaches-particularly those targeting non-coding regulation and epigenetic modifications-will be critical for achieving a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation and evolution in insects.

Key words:  Insect, genome, environmental adaptation, evolution, population genomics, comparative genomics, pan-genomics