Saturday, October 28, 2006
Genetics: Honeybee Genome Sequenced
Houston (USA), 26 October: Western honeybee (apis mellifera) has become the 3rd insect to have its genome sequenced. The data, published in Nature this week, lend insight to the insect's complex social behavior and its geographical origins.
Honeybee is a striking creature, one of relatively few species for which evolution culminated in advanced society. Queens produce offspring and non-reproductive workers gather food, care for young, build nests and defend colonies. But these 2 castes develop from the same genome. George M. Weinstock and colleagues discovered novel microRNAs (strands of RNA that are thought to regulate ex-pression of other genes) that have caste- and stage-specific ex-pression, suggesting a role in social diversification.
Apis mellifera follows in the footsteps of the fruit-fly and the mosquito, the first 2 insects to have their genome deciphered. Compared with the genomes of these insects, the honeybee genome has evolved more slowly. Furthermore, certain genes, such as those involved in biological rhythms, are more similar to vertebrate genomes. The honeybee also has more genes related to smell, and novel genes for nectar and pollen utilization, compared with the fruit-fly and mosquito.
Apis mellifera originated in Africa, the data suggest, then spread to Europe and Asia in 2 separate migrations. The infamous African 'killer' bees, Apis mellifera scutellata, were introduced to Brazil in 1956, and have almost replaced the 'European' honeybees that were present in the region.
(ResearchSEA)
Honeybee is a striking creature, one of relatively few species for which evolution culminated in advanced society. Queens produce offspring and non-reproductive workers gather food, care for young, build nests and defend colonies. But these 2 castes develop from the same genome. George M. Weinstock and colleagues discovered novel microRNAs (strands of RNA that are thought to regulate ex-pression of other genes) that have caste- and stage-specific ex-pression, suggesting a role in social diversification.
Apis mellifera follows in the footsteps of the fruit-fly and the mosquito, the first 2 insects to have their genome deciphered. Compared with the genomes of these insects, the honeybee genome has evolved more slowly. Furthermore, certain genes, such as those involved in biological rhythms, are more similar to vertebrate genomes. The honeybee also has more genes related to smell, and novel genes for nectar and pollen utilization, compared with the fruit-fly and mosquito.
Apis mellifera originated in Africa, the data suggest, then spread to Europe and Asia in 2 separate migrations. The infamous African 'killer' bees, Apis mellifera scutellata, were introduced to Brazil in 1956, and have almost replaced the 'European' honeybees that were present in the region.
(ResearchSEA)
# posted by mediabhartiwebsolutions @ 6:40 AM 
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