How Honey Bees' Altruism Spreads Certain Genes

Scientists have found strong support for the long-standing evolutionary theory of kin selection. This could suggest that altruistic behavior occurs as a way to pass genes on to the next generation.

In this latest study, the researchers investigated kin selection by examining the social behavior of worker honey bees, which are all female. They found that the genes that the workers inherit from their queen actually direct worker bees' altruistic behavior; they forgo production of their own offspring in order to rear their siblings.

When the queen dies, though, the workers can begin to selfishly compete with each other to lay eggs. The genes that they inherit from their fathers directs this behavior.

"We usually think of honey bees as ideal cooperators, with all the members of the colony working together harmoniously," said Christina Grozinger, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Our studies demonstrate that there is actually conflict-called intragenomic conflict-among the genes inherited from the father and those inherited from the mother."

In a normal colony, the queen lays all the eggs and the workers remain sterile and help raise the queen's offspring. When the queen dies, the workers either behave altruistically, remaining sterile, or behave selfishly by activating their own ovaries.

This conflict actually results from unequal distribution of the matrigenes and patrigenes among the workers. If a worker behaves altruistically, she passes on her matrigenes. If she behaves selfishly, she passes on her patrigenes.

"It is very strange to think that your genes might be fighting with each other based on whether that came from your mother or your father," said David Queller, one of the researchers. "Yet, this is just what we found. It turns out that when a queen dies, worker bees behave the way their fathers want them to, producing sons when possible."

The findings reveal a bit more about altruistic behavior and what my direct these bees.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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