Sustainable beekeeping must be an ever changing thing. It doesn't work
to develop a routine and stick to it.  A changing organism is better
able adapt to new challenges. See my article in the ABJ on the Red
Queen hypothesis.

So beekeeping must keep changing to stay viable. It won't do to lament
past errors or attempt to isolate from the rest of the industry. Now
is the time to collaborate, communicate, and come up with new
combinations of techniques. Price of freedom is eternal vigilance,
etc.

Insects' immune systems must constantly evolve to remain effective
against a changing array of diseases and other threats. These changes
are evident when examining the genes involved in immune response.

Current study describes how the immune systems of the well-studied
fruit fly group have changed over time, strengthening comparisons to
bees and other insects of agricultural importance.

The honey bee genome project has produced a tremendous amount of
information and online resources, says entomologist Jay Evans, at the
Bee Research Lab in Beltsville, Maryland. "We're now sifting through
this information to find clues to breeding and managing bees in ways
that reduce the costs of disease."

So far, about 150 honey bee genes have been selected for analysis by
Evans and his team. They've already identified genes from the bee's
immune system that are correlated with a colony's ability to withstand
exposure to important pathogens.

more info at http://www.ars.usda.gov

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