The Weird World of Hymenopteran Genetics
I may have learned about the genetics of ants, bees, et al. before Dawkins, but for some reason I recall his Selfish Gene explanations so distinctly that I can't remember any coverage before them.
Due to the haplodiploidy system of hymenopteran sex determination (explained nicely here by PZ Meyers), sisters share 75% of their DNA. Dawkins theorized a link between this overlap and their highly socialized behavior--that is, it makes sense for them to be more highly socialized because they share more DNA and therefore there is a higher evolutionary payoff in cooperation.
Another strange story in ant genetics was published this week. The bizarro genetics of fire ants is in news@nature.com. The skinny:
"The sperm of the male ant appears to be able to destroy the female DNA within a fertilized egg, giving birth to a male that is a clone of its father. Meanwhile the female queens make clones of themselves to carry on the royal female line."
link
Due to the haplodiploidy system of hymenopteran sex determination (explained nicely here by PZ Meyers), sisters share 75% of their DNA. Dawkins theorized a link between this overlap and their highly socialized behavior--that is, it makes sense for them to be more highly socialized because they share more DNA and therefore there is a higher evolutionary payoff in cooperation.
Another strange story in ant genetics was published this week. The bizarro genetics of fire ants is in news@nature.com. The skinny:
"The sperm of the male ant appears to be able to destroy the female DNA within a fertilized egg, giving birth to a male that is a clone of its father. Meanwhile the female queens make clones of themselves to carry on the royal female line."
link
posted by metamerist at
9:56 PM
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