> They propose an epigenetic imprinting mechanism that possibly promotes the expression of the paternal alleles governing defensiveness but I'm a little shady on one of the big words that come to mind:  "WHY?"  If true, why might it be beneficial for the population, i.e., selected for ? 

The study offers this explanation for the beneficial reason why paternal lines could possibly be involved in the expression of defensive behavior.  


> If a simple dominance mechanism were involved, then colonies with queens that were homozygous for defensive behavior alleles, or heterozygous, may have an unacceptably high number of defensive individuals that may be prone to disrupt routine colony functions, such as foraging, or may sting any animal near the colony, resulting in the death of the bees that sting. On the other hand, a paternal effect would allow for more specialization in defensive behavior within the colony.


Bill Hesbach
Cheshire CT.

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html