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Behavioral genetics: a gene for supersociality.
Laurent Keller1, Joel D Parker
1Institute of Ecology, BB, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Current Biology : CB
|March 8, 2002
Summary
In fire ants, worker Gp-9 genotype dictates queen numbers. This gene, encoding an odorant binding protein, likely enables queen recognition and population control in multiple related species.
Area of Science:
- Social insect behavior
- Genetics
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Colony social organization in ants is complex.
- Queen number regulation is crucial for colony success.
- The Gp-9 gene has been implicated in fire ant social structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the Gp-9 gene in fire ant colony organization.
- To determine if Gp-9 influences queen number regulation.
- To explore the conservation of Gp-9's function in related ant species.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of workers to assess Gp-9 alleles.
- Observational studies of colony behavior and queen numbers.
- Comparative analysis across multiple ant species.
Main Results:
- Worker Gp-9 genotype is a primary determinant of queen number per colony.
- Gp-9 encodes an odorant binding protein.
- This protein likely mediates queen recognition by workers.
- The same gene influences social organization in three additional closely related species.
Conclusions:
- The Gp-9 gene plays a critical role in regulating social organization and queen number in fire ants.
- Gp-9's function in social control appears conserved across closely related species, suggesting an ancient evolutionary role.