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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions
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Evolution: Staying home changes the social dynamic - in ants!

Jessica Purcell1

  • 1Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|December 16, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered an ancient gene duplication linked to queen winglessness in ants. This finding offers new insights into the evolution of supergenes that control queen number in ant colonies.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Entomology

Background:

  • Queen number variation in ant colonies is a key evolutionary trait.
  • This variation is often controlled by non-recombining supergenes with unclear origins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origins of supergenes controlling queen number in ants.
  • To understand the genetic basis of queen winglessness within these supergenes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ancient gene duplication events.
  • Investigation of genetic mechanisms within a specific ant supergene.

Main Results:

  • An ancient gene duplication event was identified as the cause of queen winglessness.

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  • This duplication is situated within a more recently evolved supergene.

    • Conclusions:

    • The study provides novel insights into the complex process of supergene evolution.
    • Understanding gene duplication is crucial for explaining the evolution of complex traits like queen number in ants.