Honey bee genomics is far from ready for practical application. First, the techniques of genetic modification have to be developed and tested. Then, specific behaviors would have to be linked to genetic codes. Then these codes would have to be introduced into germlines and passed on to offspring. Then these offspring would have to be tested for viability, negative side effects, etc. 

None of these GM honey bees could be legally released into the environment until proven safe. It would be very difficult to control genetic miscalculations if the bees were introduced into the environment. 

Personally, I think the idea of genetically modifying honey bees to suit our needs is simply the wrong way to proceed. It’s not like livestock, where if you make a mistake you just terminate the line. GM bees would be here forever like Africanized honey bees. Plenty of people point to AHB as a great benefit; others call it one the stupidest mistakes that animal breeders have ever made.

Peter L Borst

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