The Bee Chromosome database (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

• Published in: Apidologie Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 493 - 502
• Main Authors: Cunha, Marina Souza, Cardoso, Danon Clemes, Cristiano, Maykon Passos, de Oliveira Campos, Lucio Antônio, Lopes, Denilce Meneses
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.04.2021; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Apidae; Bees; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chromosomes; Conservation genetics; Cytogenetics; Entomology; Evolutionary conservation; Genetics; Genomes; Life Sciences; Original Article; Phylogeny; Species; Systematics; Taxonomy; chromosome number; karyotypic formula; chromosomal evolution; cytogenetics; nuclear genome size
• ISSN: 0044-8435; 1297-9678
• DOI: 10.1007/s13592-020-00838-2

The bee diversity (Apidae) estimative ranges from 18,000 to 20,000 species worldwide. Together, they show an impressive diversity in morphological, ecological, and behavioral traits, and there is still much to be understood about their taxonomy and systematics. Their chromosome count variability and genome biology are also astonishing. To date, around 200 bee species have already been karyotyped, with chromosome numbers varying from n = 3 to n = 28, and nuclear haploid genome sizes are available for approximately 70 species with a variation of 1C = 0.19 pg to 1C = 1.38 pg. The Bee Chromosome database was created ( www.bees.ufop.br ) to summarize the Apidae cytogenetic knowledge by assembling all the cytogenetic information published on bees. Considering the importance of cytogenetic studies for taxonomy, phylogeny, genetics, systematics, conservation, and evolution, the main goal of this database is to outline the advances in the field of bee cytogenetics over the last century.