The effect of DNA methylation on bumblebee colony development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

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, but the global effect of DNA methylation on caste determination and colony development remains unclear, mainly because of difficulties in controlling for genetic differences among experimental subjects in the parental line. Here, we investigated the effect of the methylation altering agent decitabine on the developmental rate of full bumblebee colonies. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing was used to assess differences in methylation status.

Results

Our results showed fewer methy

SUBMITTER: Pozo MI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7821684 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature