Altruistic bee mothers pass their genes: A new study

A new experiment discovered that honey bees show rare altruistic behavior, which means they selflessly help others.

Specialists focused on the genetics behind "retinue" behavior in female worker honey bees.

Let's find out what they have discovered.

Bees are complex

Usually, female worker bees can demonstrate pretty altruistic behavior, including making their own ovaries inactive, and spreading the queen bee's pheromone to other bee workers instead, and caring for both the queen and her eggs.

While this behavior aids the queen in producing offspring, the worker bee becomes unable to reproduce.

This new information revealed that genes associated with this particular altruistic behavior could come from either parent, but only those inherited from the mother bees can lead to the manifestation of such selfless behavior.

Why it's important

This experiment shows how specific genes get activated, depending on whether the bee gets them from its mom or dad, a feature that's usually difficult to study in different insects.

The research also proposes that genes from both parents might disagree on which behaviors to endorse or oppose.

Understanding the genetic foundation of altruistic actions in honey bees is crucial, and this new information underscores the influence of both maternal and paternal genes in molding behavior.
 

• Related news:
• research
• bees
• genetics
• 24 November 2023

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