Metals such as copper, iron, manganese, and zinc are clearly required for proper metabolism and development, while imbalances can lead to systemic dysfunction and disease. As a result, organisms have evolved complex genetic systems for the regulation of metal levels, including import, export, and sequestration of metals within cells and sub-cellular compartments. The study of metal biology in insects has the potential to greatly expand our understanding of metal biology. The results of such studies might point to new possible therapeutic interventions for neurological and other human diseases, as well as new strategies for insect disease vector control. The articles collected in this Research Topic comprise review and original research on metal biology in insects.

In the 40 years since the classic review of osmotic and ionic regulation written by Potts and Parry, there has been astonishing growth in scientific productivity, a marked shift in the direction and taxonomic distribution of research, and amazing changes in the technology of scientific research" It is indicative of the growth of the subject that as

The publication of the extensive seven-volume work Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science provided a complete reference encompassing important developments and achievements in modern insect science. One of the most swiftly moving areas in entomological and comparative research is molecular biology, and this volume, Insect Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, is designed for those who desire a comprehensive yet concise work on important aspects of this topic. This volume contains ten fully revised or rewritten chapters from the original series as well as five completely new chapters on topics such as insect immunology, insect genomics, RNAi, and molecular biology of circadian rhythms and circadian behavior. The topics included are key to an understanding of insect development, with emphasis on the cuticle, digestive properties, and the transport of lipids; extensive and integrated chapters on cytochrome P450s; and the role of transposable elements in the developmental processes as well as programmed cell death. This volume will be of great value to senior investigators, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and advanced undergraduate research students. It can also be used as a reference for graduate courses and seminars on the topic. Chapters will also be valuable to the applied biologist or entomologist, providing the requisite understanding necessary for probing the more applied research areas related to insect control. - Topics specially selected by the editor-in-chief of the original major reference work - Fully revised and new contributions bring together the latest research in the rapidly moving fields of insect molecular biology and insect biochemistry, including coverage of development, physiology, immunity and proteomics - Full-color provides readers with clear, useful illustrations to highlight important research findings

The last five years have been extremely challenging, but also very innovative for cephalopod science, and the outstanding tradition of biological contribution with cephalopod molluscs as key players in science and human activities and interests has continued. This Research Topic is one of several dedicated to cephalopod molluscs (e.g., Hanke and Osorio, 2018; Ponte et al., 2018) hosted by Frontiers over the last few years, not to mention other papers published separately. Highlighting of cephalopod science is important because it has much to offer not only the life science community, but also more broadly the public perception of science and its understanding and relationship with scientific endeavour and cephalopods as living organisms and part of our everyday life (at least for most of us). This contribution illustrates the key needs that need to be overcome by the cephalopod research community, i.e. rapid and effective mechanisms for exchange of knowledge and resources, sharing of laboratory protocols, videos, tissues, samples and data-sets, innovative approaches and initiatives in public engagement. The cuttlefish comic included is an excellent example of a type of media that can be used to expand scientific knowledge to the public and human relationship with live animals. There are strategic challenges in convincing globally distributed policy makers and funders of the relevance of cephalopods in scientific advances, and also in the regulatory aspects, since cephalopods are the only invertebrates whose use is regulated in Europe in a research context and this increases the need for integrated oversight and direction in terms of ethics and animal welfare (e.g., Jacquet et al., 2019a; 2019b; Ponte et al., 2019). This Research Topic also aligns with the interests of the cephalopod community in stimulating public interest in cephalopods extending to a broader audience that could include chefs and gourmets, and fishers and scientists aiming to develop sustainable food resources. “CephsInAction: Towards Future Challenges for Cephalopod Science” Research Topic includes 14 papers from about 40 authors representing ten different countries, thus overlapping with the original parties that contributed to the COST FA1301 that, together with CephRes, promoted and supported this editorial initiative.

Black & white print. Concepts of Biology is designed for the typical introductory biology course for nonmajors, covering standard scope and sequence requirements. The text includes interesting applications and conveys the major themes of biology, with content that is meaningful and easy to understand. The book is designed to demonstrate biology concepts and to promote scientific literacy.