TY - JOUR
T1 - Insights into social insects from the genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera
AU - Hauser, Frank
AU - Cazzamali, Giuseppe
AU - Williamson, Michael
AU - Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis
AU - Honeybee Genome Sequencing Consortium
N1 - Keywords: Animals; Base Composition; Bees; Behavior, Animal; DNA Transposable Elements; Evolution, Molecular; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Insect; Genome, Insect; Genomics; Immunity; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Physical Chromosome Mapping; Proteome; Reproduction; Signal Transduction; Social Behavior; Telomere
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Here we report the genome sequence of the honeybee Apis mellifera, a key model for social behaviour and essential to global ecology through pollination. Compared with other sequenced insect genomes, the A. mellifera genome has high A+T and CpG contents, lacks major transposon families, evolves more slowly, and is more similar to vertebrates for circadian rhythm, RNA interference and DNA methylation genes, among others. Furthermore, A. mellifera has fewer genes for innate immunity, detoxification enzymes, cuticle-forming proteins and gustatory receptors, more genes for odorant receptors, and novel genes for nectar and pollen utilization, consistent with its ecology and social organization. Compared to Drosophila, genes in early developmental pathways differ in Apis, whereas similarities exist for functions that differ markedly, such as sex determination, brain function and behaviour. Population genetics suggests a novel African origin for the species A. mellifera and insights into whether Africanized bees spread throughout the New World via hybridization or displacement.
AB - Here we report the genome sequence of the honeybee Apis mellifera, a key model for social behaviour and essential to global ecology through pollination. Compared with other sequenced insect genomes, the A. mellifera genome has high A+T and CpG contents, lacks major transposon families, evolves more slowly, and is more similar to vertebrates for circadian rhythm, RNA interference and DNA methylation genes, among others. Furthermore, A. mellifera has fewer genes for innate immunity, detoxification enzymes, cuticle-forming proteins and gustatory receptors, more genes for odorant receptors, and novel genes for nectar and pollen utilization, consistent with its ecology and social organization. Compared to Drosophila, genes in early developmental pathways differ in Apis, whereas similarities exist for functions that differ markedly, such as sex determination, brain function and behaviour. Population genetics suggests a novel African origin for the species A. mellifera and insights into whether Africanized bees spread throughout the New World via hybridization or displacement.
U2 - 10.1038/nature05260
DO - 10.1038/nature05260
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 17073008
SN - 0028-0836
VL - 443
SP - 931
EP - 949
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
IS - 7114
ER -