The yellow mealworm species Tenebrio molitor. An IUPUI-led study finds the insect could serve as a good alternate protein source in agriculture. Photo by Ti Eriksson, Beta Hatch
With global food demands rising at an alarming rate, a study led by IUPUI scientists has found new evidence that a previously overlooked insect shows promise as alternative protein source: the yellow mealworm.
The research is based upon a new analysis of the genome of the mealworm species Tenebrio molitor led by Christine Picard, associate professor of biology and director of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences program at the School of Science at IUPUI.
The work was published in the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed on Aug. 31.
“Human populations are continuing to increase, and the stress on protein production is increasing at an unsustainable rate, not even considering climate change,” said Picard, whose lab focuses on the use of insects to address global food demand.
The research, conducted in partnership with Beta Hatch Inc., has found the yellow mealworm — historically a pest — can provide benefit in a wide range of agriculture applications. Not only can it can be used as an alternative source of protein for animals including fish, but its waste is also ideal as organic fertilizer.
Picard and her team sequenced the yellow mealworm’s genome using 10X Chromium linked-read technology. The results will help those who now wish to utilize the DNA and optimize the yellow mealworm for mass production and consumption. This new technology integrates the best of two sequencing methods to produce a reliable genome sequence.
“Insect genomes are challenging, and the longer sequence of DNA you can generate, the better genome you can assemble,” Picard said.
She added that the mealworm has — and will have — a wide variety uses.
“Mealworms, being insects, are a part of the natural diet of many organisms,” Picard said. “Fish enjoy mealworms, for example. They could also be really useful in the pet food industry as an alternative protein source, chickens like insects — and maybe one day humans, too, because it’s an alternative source of protein.”
Next, Picard said the researchers plan to look at what governs some of the biological processes of yellow mealworms in order to harness information useful for the commercialization of these insects.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Yellow mealworm
- ‘The Backyard Bird Chronicles’ is a lively, unexpectedly moving account of the novelist’s feathered friends
But they would be missing out, because Tan, best known for “The Joy Luck Club” — the iconic 1998 novel of intergenerational Chinese and Chinese-American mothers and daughters — is a tremendously ...
- Emotional Chickens Get Red-Faced Too, Study Reveals
Research found chickens' faces turned scarlet red when they were having negative experiences such as being caught by a human.
- Emotion can cause chickens to get red in the face
Studying emotion in animals is a complex research field, little explored up to now in birds, although reddening of the skin had already been observed in previous work on the blue-and-yellow macaw. An ...
- Young girl talks about first ever trout, experts explain which baits to catch more fish
“The popular baits are still mealworms, red worms ... Regarding PowerBait and eggs, Schwartz said yellow and orange have been popular choices for those targeted stocked trout.
- Young girl talks about first ever trout, experts explain which baits to catch more fish
Trout season officially begins April 6 in Pennsylvania and experts are sharing what they believe will help you catch more fish this spring.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Yellow mealworm
[google_news title=”” keyword=”yellow mealworm” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Sustainable food source
- This revolutionary ‘bioplastic’ could be a sustainable plastic alternative
Researchers have created new bioplastic pellets that could offer a more sustainable and safer alternative to plastic.
- Unreasonable Food Cohort Aims to Redefine Future of Sustainable Food
As part of the Unreasonable Food collaboration, Mars and Unreasonable Group announced the inaugural cohort of 15 companies chosen for their potential to drive impact at scale across the food value ...
- Celebrating World IP Day: Is the Innovative Future Sustainable?
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) established World IP Day 19 years ago to celebrate the day on which the WIPO Convention entered into force: April 26, 1970. And this year, WIPO has ...
- Green Clean: 4 Companies Making Household Products Sustainable
As consumers demand green household cleaning products that are free of plastic and toxins, these 4 brands are meeting the need: Branch Basics, Blueland, Tru Earth & Reel.
- Addressing sustainable food systems: Global initiatives and innovations
Science X is a network of high quality websites with most complete and comprehensive daily coverage of the full sweep of science, technology, and medicine news ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Sustainable food source
[google_news title=”” keyword=”sustainable food source” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]