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Obligate chimerism in male yellow crazy ants
H Darras1,2, C Berney2, S Hasin3
1Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 6, 2023
Summary
Yellow crazy ants exhibit unique reproduction. Males are chimeras of two cell lineages, with one lineage forming body cells and the other forming sperm, influencing offspring development.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
- Insect Behavior
Background:
- Multicellular organisms typically arise from a single fertilized egg, resulting in clonal cell populations.
- The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) presents an unusual reproductive strategy.
- Understanding reproductive mechanisms is crucial for evolutionary biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extraordinary reproductive system of the yellow crazy ant.
- To elucidate the cellular basis of chimerism in male ants.
- To explore the implications of this reproductive mode on lineage conflict and offspring development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of chimerism in male yellow crazy ants.
- Tracking the differential distribution of two cell lineages (R and W) in somatic tissues and sperm.
- Investigating the role of syngamy and fertilization in determining queen or worker development.
Main Results:
- Male yellow crazy ants are chimeras composed of haploid cells from two distinct lineages: R and W.
- R cells are predominant in somatic tissues, while W cells are overrepresented in sperm.
- Offspring develop into queens or workers based on fertilization by R or W sperm, respectively, after parental nuclei bypass syngamy.
Conclusions:
- This study reveals a novel reproductive system in ants involving cellular chimerism and differential lineage contribution to germ and somatic cells.
- The observed reproductive strategy may stem from a conflict between lineages vying for preferential entry into the germ line.
- This mechanism provides a unique model for studying developmental plasticity and evolutionary conflict in social insects.
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