Caution in Interpreting Regulatory RNA Associations With Eusocial Evolution in Bees

Recent advances in transcriptomics and regulatory genomics have expanded interest in the potential roles of alternative splicing and noncoding RNAs in the evolution of eusociality in bees. A recently published review by Brenman-Suttner and Zayed synthesized this literature, highlighting numerous associations between the expression patterns of regulatory RNA and caste, task, and developmental states. However, there is a distinction between molecular associations and demonstrated causal roles in evolutionary processes, particularly for complex social traits. Drawing on established principles from evolutionary genomics and regulatory biology, we discuss the limitations of correlational transcriptomic data and highlight ongoing debates over the functional inference of circular RNAs and long noncoding RNAs. Clarifying these interpretive boundaries is essential for aligning conclusions with current evidence and for guiding future experimental research on the molecular basis of social evolution.