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Date: | Wed, 4 Feb 2009 20:38:08 -0800 |
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>
> Wow, Steve, that's a lot of questions! I'm half brain dead from moving
> bees, but I will try to answer coherently.
> >can you explain what is meant by "effective generational interval"
Colonies carry the genetics of two generations--the current generation in
the queens, and the previous generation in the stored semen.
>
> >and how having worker laid drones would cause a reduction in it?
These drones are from the current generation, so the effective genetic pool
is reduced. I will forward you the math off list. I don't pretend to
follow the details of it.
> > And again, how common is it that workers lay eggs in a "normal"
> hive, and what would cause them to lay eggs other than the abnormal
> situation of not having a queen for an extended period of time?
It is apparently not uncommon for a few workers to lay drone eggs, and
sometimes worker eggs. The fertile eggs are layed using a process called
thelytoky. Again, I am at the limit of my knowledge in this area.
> > In other words what would be the incentive?
The "selfish gene." The advantage of having more of your genes passed to
the next generation.
>What would be the advantage in "cheating" in the first place?
Ditto above.
> >Also, can anyone tell me what the chances are of worker laid drones
> passing on their genes are?
Don't know, but there are references in the Ebbersten thesis. Let me know!
> > Does the evidence suggest that worker laid drones effectively serve
> as a last ditch way for a bee chromosome to make another bee chromosome?
I have no way to substantiate, but I've always figured that when a colony
goes laying worker due to queenlessness, that that was a last-ditch attempt
to pass the colony's genes on.
>
> >I hope you are up to sorting some of this out for some of us.
I'm honored, but I do not like to give answers when I am near the limit of
my knowledge. This is such a case. I take giving answers seriously, and
have been known to track down those to whom I have ever given an answer that
I later find to be erroneous. I have no qualms about saying "I don't
know." : )
Randy Oliver
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