The effect of DNA methylation on bumblebee colony development

• Published in: BMC genomics Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 73 - 11
• Main Authors: Pozo, María I., Hunt, Benjamin J., Van Kemenade, Gaby, Guerra-Sanz, Jose M., Wäckers, Felix, Mallon, Eamonn B., Jacquemyn, Hans
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 22.01.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine; Altruism; Animals; Autosomal dominant inheritance; Bees; Bees - genetics; Behavior; Bisulfite; Bumblebees; Caste determination; Colonies; Colony development; Cooperation; CpG islands; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Developmental stages; DNA; DNA Methylation; Eggs; Epigenetics; Gametocytes; Gene expression; Gene sequencing; Genetic aspects; Genome; Genomes; Genomics; Insects; Loci; Male; Males; Methylation; Ovaries; Physiological aspects; Reproductive behavior; Social insects; Workers (insect caste); Belgium; Social insects; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Colony development

Although around 1% of cytosines in bees' genomes are known to be methylated, less is known about methylation's effect on bee behavior and fitness. Chemically altered DNA methylation levels have shown clear changes in the dominance and reproductive behavior of workers in queen-less colonies...