Gene regulation underlies the evolution of social complexity in bees

Date:

May 14, 2015

Source:

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Summary:

Explaining the evolution of insect society, with sterile society members displaying extreme levels of altruism, has long been a major scientific challenge, dating back to Charles Darwin's day. A new genomic study of 10 species of bees representing a spectrum of social living -- from solitary bees to those in complex, highly social colonies -- offers new insights into the genetic changes that accompany the evolution of bee societies.

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