Caste determination in a polyembryonic wasp involves inheritance of germ cells.

ABSTRACT: Social insects are characterized by the development of castes in which some colony members reproduce whereas others function as altruistic helpers. The conditional switch controlling caste formation usually involves environmental stimuli that act on processes that regulate development of individuals. Unlike other social species, embryos of polyembryonic wasps develop clonally to produce large numbers of genetically identical offspring and two morphologically distinct castes. All embryos in a clone exist in an identical environment, the host, yet develop into either reproductive larvae that mature into adult wasps or soldier larvae whose function is defense. Here, we report that caste determination in Copidosoma floridanum involves inheritance of germ cells. Expression of a C. floridanum ho

SUBMITTER: Donnell DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC454170 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature