Worker Reproduction and Caste Polymorphism Impact Genome Evolution and Social Genes Across the Ants.

ABSTRACT: Eusocial insects are characterized by several traits, including reproductive division of labor and caste polymorphisms, which likely modulate genome evolution. Concomitantly, evolution may act on specific genes and pathways underlying these novel, sociality-associated phenotypes. Reproductive division of labor should increase the magnitude of genetic drift and reduce the efficacy of selection by reducing effective population size. Caste polymorphism has been associated with relaxed selection and may facilitate directional selection on caste-specific genes. Here, we use comparative analyses of 22 ant genomes to test how reproductive division of labor and worker polymorphism influence positive selection and selection intensity across the genome. Our results demonstrate that worker reproducti

SUBMITTER: Barkdull M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10287540 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature