Clonal raider ant brain transcriptomics identifies candidate molecular mechanisms for reproductive division of labor.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Division of labor between reproductive queens and workers that perform brood care is a hallmark of insect societies. However, studies of the molecular basis of this fundamental dichotomy are limited by the fact that the caste of an individual cannot typically be experimentally manipulated at the adult stage. Here we take advantage of the unique biology of the clonal raider ant, Ooceraea biroi, to study brain gene expression dynamics during experimentally induced transitions between reproductive and brood care behavior.

Results

Introducing larvae that inhibit reproduction and induce brood care behavior causes much faster changes in adult gene expression than removing larvae. In addition, the general patterns of gene expression differ depending on whether ants trans

SUBMITTER: Libbrecht R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6090591 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature