Molecular underpinnings of division of labour among workers in a socially complex termite.

ABSTRACT: Division of labour characterizes all major evolutionary transitions, such as the evolution of eukaryotic cells or multicellular organisms. Social insects are characterized by reproductive division of labour, with one or a few reproducing individuals (queens) and many non-reproducing nestmates (workers) forming a colony. Among the workers, further division of labour can occur with different individuals performing different tasks such as foraging, brood care or building. While mechanisms underlying task division are intensively studied in social Hymenoptera, less is known for termites, which independently evolved eusociality. We investigated molecular mechanisms underlying task division in termite workers to test for communality with social Hymenoptera. We compared similar-aged foraging work

SUBMITTER: Elsner D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8440649 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature