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Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:47:37 -0700 |
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>If there are only 2% of the original European genes in our bees, how is
> that concentrating the gene pool.?
>
Allow me to help clarify, if I may. No genes have been lost. We're
actually speaking of alleles of some genes. The alleles extant for some
genes have changed--some of the alleles typical of A.m.m. have disappeared,
to be replaced by alleles from A.m.l., A.m.scutellata, and some from
Australia and elsewhere.
There have been a shift of alleles. The question as to whether there has
been an overall loss of allelic diversity is the question. Although Dr
Shepard and Delaney's papers indicate a shift in alleles, my sensing of the
research is that there has been little or no actual loss.
As Pete says, honey bees have a number of unusual traits that allow them to
recover allelic diversity from just a few survivors. I'll be writing about
that very thing soon.
Randy Oliver
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