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The migratory locust has long served as a model organism for insect morphology, behavior, physiology, and neurobiology. However, its wide application in modern biology has been limited by the lack of genomic resources and mature genetic manipulation systems. In recent years, the decoding of the large-sized genome and the development of efficient genetic-manipulation tools have accelerated research across multiple disciplines, such as integrative biology, phenotypic plasticity, molecular biology, neuroscience, genetics and other related fields, thereby solidifying the locust as an important model for modern biological research. This review systematically summarizes the multi-dimensional value of the locust, including its genomic characteristics, developmental and physiological traits, as well as the sophisticated environmental adaptation strategies. In particular, its unique genomic features, which exhibit greater proximity to vertebrates and humans compared to traditional insect model organisms, confer exceptional research value. We highlight the significance of the locust in functional genomics, environmental adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and sustainable pest management. Finally, we discuss the current challenges faced in the locust research and propose promising future directions for leveraging locust as a model organism.
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Cao et al. (2026) studied this question.