What’s in 5000 insect genomes?

Used to be, you could get a PhD for sequencing a gene, but by the time you finish graduate school you may have sequenced a genome or two as part of your thesis. By investigating their genomes, we can take a fresh look at how insects transmit some of the most devastating diseases of humans, livestock, and plants on one hand, yet also serve as medical models for cancer, obesity, alcoholism, and neurological disease on the other. Scientists in the i5K initiative are gearing up to sequencing 5000 insect genomes to improve human welfare and understand key ecosystem services that insects provide.