Like Stefan I am no geneticist but I would remark that he seems to have been seduced by the theory of the French naturalist J.B.P.A. de Monet de Lamark that species have developed by the efforts of organisms to adapt themselves to new conditions. This was exploded by Charles Darwin over a century ago. Where nutrition may have an effect upon genes is when it influences reproductive success. If better or worse fed bees produce more or less queens and drones this will affect the relative quentities of their genes in the pool, but will not create new genes or destroy old ones unless the creatures do not reproduce at all. Whether your grandfather lived on bread and water or caviare and chips you may inherit his red hair or his bad temper but you will not inherit his wooden leg unless he leaves it to you in his will. Chris Slade