Gene Coexpression Network Reveals Highly Conserved, Well-Regulated Anti-Ageing Mechanisms in Old Ant Queens.

ABSTRACT: Evolutionary theories of ageing predict a reduction in selection efficiency with age, a so-called "selection shadow," due to extrinsic mortality decreasing effective population size with age. Classic symptoms of ageing include a deterioration in transcriptional regulation and protein homeostasis. Understanding how ant queens defy the trade-off between fecundity and lifespan remains a major challenge for the evolutionary theory of ageing. It has often been discussed that the low extrinsic mortality of ant queens, that are generally well protected within the nest by workers and soldiers, should reduce the selection shadow acting on old queens. We tested this by comparing strength of selection acting on genes upregulated in young and old queens of the ant, Cardiocondyla obscurior. In support

SUBMITTER: Harrison MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8214412 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature