Aspirations to develop more efficient ways of pest control and bigger yields are rising due to increasing world demand for food. The biggest problem agriculture faces in acomplishing these goals is that insects are devoloping resistance to current pest control methods. Biopesticides present the best currently available alternative, they are natural and biodegradable, which makes them more environmentaly and consumer friendly. Biopesticides are types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. They generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as different as birds, insects and mammals. In my work I illustrate the mechanism behind RNAi based biopesticides and challenges they face. RNA interference presents a new mode of action in pest control. It is an evolutionary conserved mechanism, which causes gene silencing and prevents mRNA translation. The outcome of RNAi effects on the insect mainly depends upon the selection of an ideal target gene. The ideal gene target for RNAi should be vital for insect survival, and must be highly expressed. When RNAi is successful the target gene is silenced, which causes death of the target insect.
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