Insights into social insects from the genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera

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Item Type:	Review
Title:	Insights into social insects from the genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera
Abstract:	Here we report the genome sequence of the honeybee Apis mellifera, a key model for social behaviour and essential to global ecology through pollination. Compared with other sequenced insect genomes, the A. mellifera genome has high A+T and CpG contents, lacks major transposon families, evolves more slowly, and is more similar to vertebrates for circadian rhythm, RNA interference and DNA methylation genes, among others. Furthermore, A. mellifera has fewer genes for innate immunity, detoxification enzymes, cuticle-forming proteins and gustatory receptors, more genes for odorant receptors, and novel genes for nectar and pollen utilization, consistent with its ecology and social organization. Compared to Drosophila, genes in early developmental pathways differ in Apis, whereas similarities exist for functions that differ markedly, such as sex determination, brain function and behaviour. Population genetics suggests a novel African origin for the species A. mellifera and insights into whether Africanized bees spread throughout the New World via hybridization or displacement.
Keywords:	Animal Behavior, Base Composition, Bees, DNA Transposable Elements, Gene Expression Regulation, Genomics, Immunity, Insect Genes, Insect Genome, Molecular Evolution, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Physical Chromosome Mapping, Proteome, Reproduction, Signal Transduction, Social Behavior, Telomere, Animals
Source:	Nature
ISSN:	0028-0836
Publisher:	Nature Publishing Group
Volume:	443
Number:	7114
Page Range:	931-949
Date:	26 October 2006
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05260
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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