Convergent Loss of Chemoreceptors across Independent Origins of Slave-Making in Ants.

ABSTRACT: The evolution of an obligate parasitic lifestyle often leads to the reduction of morphological and physiological traits, which may be accompanied by loss of genes and functions. Slave-making ants are social parasites that exploit the work force of closely related ant species for social behaviors such as brood care and foraging. Recent divergence between these social parasites and their hosts enables comparative studies of gene family evolution. We sequenced the genomes of eight ant species, representing three independent origins of ant slavery. During the evolution of eusociality, chemoreceptor genes multiplied due to the importance of chemical communication in insect societies. We investigated the evolutionary fate of these chemoreceptors and found that slave-making ant genomes harbored o

SUBMITTER: Jongepier E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8760941 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature