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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
10:17
An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations
Published on: November 3, 2010
Influence of gene action across different time scales on behavior
Y Ben-Shahar1, A Robichon, M B Sokolowski
1Department of Entomology, Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 320 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 27, 2002
Summary
Honey bees transition to foraging behavior with increased expression of the foraging (for) gene, which encodes a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). This gene
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Neuroethology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Genes influence natural behavioral variation through allelic differences and changes in gene expression.
- Gene expression timing can affect the onset of specific behaviors, such as age-related transitions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the foraging (for) gene in the age-related shift from hive tasks to foraging in honey bees.
- To determine if changes in gene expression or allelic variation of the for gene influence foraging behavior.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing gene expression levels in honey bees of different ages.
- Administering cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) to observe effects on behavior.
- Comparing findings with previous studies on Drosophila foraging variants.
Main Results:
- Foraging behavior in honey bees correlates with increased expression of the foraging (for) gene.
- The for gene encodes a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG).
- cGMP treatment enhanced PKG activity and induced foraging behavior.
Conclusions:
- The foraging (for) gene plays a crucial role in the age-related transition to foraging behavior in honey bees.
- The same gene can influence behavior through both gene expression changes and allelic variation, as seen in honey bees and Drosophila.
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