The Darkling Beetle for Exploring "-omic" Science

The beetle Tenebrio molitor (often referred to as mealworm) is a relatively easy-to-manage insect that possesses a range of features that suggest it may be suitable for practical classes In schools. It is relatively inexpensive in the larval form, it is available from virtually all pet shops and it can be purchased both live and in a freeze-dried form, facilitating some biochemical experiments. The larvae are relatively large (between 1-5cm), the beetles are flightless, but easily visualized for anatomical studies, and they are harmless. In fact the mealworm is recommended by the WHO as a dietary supplement owing to its high protein levels per gram dry weight. In short, it is inexpensive, easy to handle, widely available - and nutritious! "-omics" informally refers to a field of study in biology ending in -omics, such as genomics or proteomics, the study of the genome and proteome respectively.