The role of an evolutionary new transcription factor in programming elaborate social behaviors in the honeybee

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Martin Beye
• Subject Area: Evolutionary Cell and Developmental Biology (Zoology) ; Evolution, Anthropology ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
• Term: since 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 240588565

The evolution of eusociality in vertebrates and invertebrates has led to changes from solitary to group living. In more advanced eusocial insect colonies, such as honeybees, sophisticated social within-group behaviors are limited to workers, while queens’ behaviors are devoted to reproduction. The evolution of the worker caste is associated with a diversified behavioral repertoire and rich social interactions that need to be controlled in a context-specific manner. Other work suggests that behavioral task engagements are influenced by the genotype, gene expression, experience and age of adult workers. However, our understanding of how the potential of innate worker-specific behaviors is programmed during development is rudimentary at best. We have identified a novel gene component that is involved in specifying aspects of worker behaviors. The aim of the work in this proposal is to deeply understand the mechanisms that specify during development the capacity of elaborate worker behaviors.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants