PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

From worker to queen at the drop of a gene

University of Leicester researchers discover the genes that cause the buff-tailed bumblebee to develop into a male, worker or queen

From worker to queen at the drop of a gene
2015-05-26
(Press-News.org) Biologists from the University of Leicester have discovered that one of nature's most important pollinators - the buff-tailed bumblebee - either ascends to the status of queen or remains a lowly worker bee based on which genes are 'turned on' during its lifespan.

The paper, entitled 'Reproductive workers show queen-like gene expression in an intermediately eusocial insect, the buff-tailed bumble bee Bombus terrestris', which is published in the journal Molecular Ecology, suggests that the development of an individual bumblebee into its designated caste of male, worker or queen depends on the activation of individual genes, despite the bees all sharing similar genomes.

The study is part of student Mark Harrison's PhD thesis and was supervised by Drs Eamonn Mallon and Rob Hammond from the University of Leicester's Department of Biology.

It is the first time the whole genome exploration of caste differentiation has been carried out for the buff-tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, which is now possible due to the recent sequencing of the entire bumblebee genome.

Mark Harrison explained: "The bumblebee is one of the most ecologically and economically important pollinators. One fascinating aspect of its biology is the differentiation of developing females into either workers or queens.

"In our study we had the aim to understand how one genome could produce three such different castes - queens, workers and males - within bumblebees.

"The question we sought to answer is how the genome encodes for males, workers and queens, as they are so genetically similar yet so different in behaviour, morphology and physiology."

The team analysed which genes were 'turned on' in males, workers and queens of the buff-tailed bumblebee at different developmental stages to understand how the same genomes can produce such different castes.

The findings suggest that differentiation is not caused by inherited genetic difference, as is typical of most species of animal, meaning that males, which hatch from unfertilised eggs, are genetically very similar to their sisters.

Mark added: "One interesting finding was that the largest differences in gene expression were detected between adult castes rather than between castes within larval or pupal stages. This is surprising since all morphological features are developed during these two developmental phases.

"This indicates the need for more distinct expression patterns to control behaviour and physiology in adults compared to those required to create different morphologies.

"This was further highlighted by the patterns we observed within adult castes. The largest difference was found between the queen and males, whose behavior and physiology show little overlap."

The differentiation between the castes in bees is similar to cell differentiation in humans, who also have a single genome encoded for all cell types. Each cell in the human body contains identical DNA, yet they differentiate into very different cell types, such as liver cells or neurons.

Queens and the reproductive workers, which begin laying eggs towards the end of a colony cycle, also showed little difference in their gene expression patterns. Reproductive workers appear to become more 'queen-like' in their behaviour and physiology.

In the future, the researchers hope to find out whether or not a different version of the same gene can lead to a female developing into a queen rather than a worker and wish to better understand how expression patterns are inherited in animals.

INFORMATION:

The study was funded by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Biomolecular Analysis Facility research grant (NBAF 829) and a NERC PhD research grant.

The paper is available in Molecular Ecology at the following location: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mec.13215/abstract


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
From worker to queen at the drop of a gene

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

The first fraction of ejaculate is the most effective for conception

2015-05-26
Sperm in the first fraction of ejaculate are more numerous, move more and present better quality DNA than those lagging behind. This is the conclusion of a study led by the Ginemed fertility clinic, which confirms that while the objective of the first fraction is to fertilise the egg, the second phase is so that no sperm from any other male has a chance to fertilise it. A study led by the Ginemed Assisted Human Reproduction Clinic analyses the advantages of using fractions of ejaculate separately in in-vitro fertilisation as a way to improve the sample of the semen. The ...

Pathbreaking study by Israeli and American neuroscientists reveals autism's 'noisy' secret

2015-05-26
Strapped into a motion-enabled simulator and wearing 3D glasses, 36 adolescent volunteers recently experienced what it was like to "travel" through a field of virtual stars. The experiments provided new and convention-busting data about how sensory stimuli are processed by the brains of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The study, entitled "Self-motion perception in autism is compromised by visual noise but integrated optimally across multiple senses," was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on May 4th, 2015. The authors of ...

Genomic data reveals emergence in Africa of drug resistant strain of typhoid

2015-05-26
The team has completed two genomics studies on the tropical disease, a condition that is estimated to cause up to 30 million illnesses and over a quarter of a million deaths globally each year. The first study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, suggests that the H58-strain, which is likely to have emerged in Asia approximately thirty years ago, is now rapidly spreading across Africa, where it has been introduced on several separate occasions. A key feature of this strain appears to be its ability to acquire resistance to commonly available antibiotics. Dr Melita ...

ER doctors stress need for good communications with police

2015-05-26
TORONTO, May 27, 2015--A good working relationship with police is essential for the smooth operation of a busy Emergency Department. Police are in and out of EDs regularly, supporting EMS, transporting patients and helping to provide a safe environment for hospital staff. Not surprisingly, differences of opinion arise from time to time over a health care worker's duty to protect patient privacy and the police need to conduct a criminal investigation. That's why it's essential to develop strategies to optimize communications between police and ED workers, according to ...

Changes in forest structure affect bees and other pollinators

2015-05-26
ATHENS, GA - Over the past century, many forests have shifted from open to closed canopies. The change in forest structure could be contributing to declines in pollinator species, especially native bees, according to a new study by U.S. Forest Service scientists. The study shows how common present-day forest conditions affect pollinators, especially bees. "Bees prefer open forests," says Jim Hanula, a research entomologist at the Southern Research Station (SRS) Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Plants research unit. "We found that total tree basal area was the best predictor ...

Debunking 3 common food myths (video)

Debunking 3 common food myths (video)
2015-05-26
WASHINGTON, May 26, 2015 -- You might have heard that microwaving your food is dangerous. Maybe your health nut friend told you that eating frozen veggies is less healthful than eating fresh ones. Is a glass of red wine really good for your heart? This week, Reactions is here to sort out the "old wives' tales" from the facts, taking on a swath of food myths. Check out the videos here: http://bit.ly/ACSFoodMyths. Subscribe to the series at http://bit.ly/ACSReactions, and follow us on Twitter @ACSreactions to be the first to see our latest videos. INFORMATION: The ...

New urine test could reduce need for blood samples

2015-05-26
CLEMSON, S.C. -- If you've been to the doctor, you probably know what to do when you're handed a plastic cup and shown to the bathroom. Most patients hand over the sample and give little thought to what happens when it's shipped to the lab for analysis. Ken Marcus and his students are the exceptions. They have developed a new testing method that they believe will reduce costs, get faster results and lower the volume of urine needed for a sample. Marissa Pierson, a master's student, closes the lid on a centrifuge while working in a Clemson University lab with Ken Marcus. It's ...

Squeezed quantum cats

Squeezed quantum cats
2015-05-26
This news release is available in German. Quantum physics is full of fascinating phenomena. Take, for instance, the cat from the famous thought experiment by the physicist Erwin Schrodinger. The cat can be dead and alive at once, since its life depends on the quantum mechanically determined state of a radioactively decaying atom which, in turn, releases toxic gas into the cat's cage. As long as one hasn't measured the state of the atom, one knows nothing about the poor cat's health either - atom and kitty are intimately "entangled" with each other. Equally striking, ...

Researchers solve another piece of the puzzle how forests can effect our climate

Researchers solve another piece of the puzzle how forests can effect our climate
2015-05-26
This news release is available in German. Leipzig / Helsinki. A first global scale study has estimated how forest emitted compounds affecting cloud seeds via formation of low-volatility vapours. According to the latest projections, terrestrial vegetation emits several million tons of extremely low-volatility organic compounds (ELVOCs) per year to the atmosphere. These oxidation products of compounds such as monoterpenes results in an increase of condensing vapours that can further form cloud condensation nuclei over the continents and thus has an influence ...

A scientific breakthrough helps explain how DNA is organized in our cells

2015-05-26
Montréal, May 25, 2015 - A team of researchers at the IRCM led by François Robert, PhD, uncovered a critical role for two proteins in chromatin structure. Their breakthrough, recently published in the scientific journal Molecular Cell, helps explain how DNA is organized in our cells. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of what causes certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma. Dr. Robert and his team study chromatin, the structure composed of DNA and proteins that makes up chromosomes. Its main role is to package DNA molecules containing all the ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Exercise as an anti-ageing intervention to avoid detrimental impact of mental fatigue

UMass Amherst Nursing Professor Emerita honored as ‘Living Legend’

New guidelines aim to improve cystic fibrosis screening

Picky eaters by day, buffet by night: Butterfly, moth diets sync to plant aromas

Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Leanne Redman honored with the E. V. McCollum Award from the American Society for Nutrition

CCNY physicists uncover electronic interactions mediated via spin waves

Researchers’ 3D-printing formula may transform future of foam

Nurture more important than nature for robotic hand

Drug-delivering aptamers target leukemia stem cells for one-two knockout punch

New study finds that over 95% of sponsored influencer posts on Twitter were not disclosed

New sea grant report helps great lakes fish farmers navigate aquaculture regulations

Strain “trick” improves perovskite solar cells’ efficiency

How GPS helps older drivers stay on the roads

Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the body to make opioids

Dancing with the cells – how acoustically levitating a diamond led to a breakthrough in biotech automation

Machine learning helps construct an evolutionary timeline of bacteria

Cellular regulator of mRNA vaccine revealed... offering new therapeutic options

Animal behavioral diversity at risk in the face of declining biodiversity

Finding their way: GPS ignites independence in older adult drivers

Antibiotic resistance among key bacterial species plateaus over time

‘Some insects are declining but what’s happening to the other 99%?’

Powerful new software platform could reshape biomedical research by making data analysis more accessible

Revealing capillaries and cells in living organs with ultrasound

American College of Physicians awards $260,000 in grants to address equity challenges in obesity care

Researchers from MARE ULisboa discover that the European catfish, an invasive species in Portugal, has a prolonged breeding season, enhancing its invasive potential

Rakesh K. Jain, PhD, FAACR, honored with the 2025 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research

Solar cells made of moon dust could power future space exploration

Deporting immigrants may further shrink the health care workforce

Border region emergency medical services in migrant emergency care

Resident physician intentions regarding unionization

[Press-News.org] From worker to queen at the drop of a gene
University of Leicester researchers discover the genes that cause the buff-tailed bumblebee to develop into a male, worker or queen