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Date: | Sat, 7 Mar 2020 10:10:32 -0500 |
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Bill writes
> Why capensis evolved with the capability for thelytokous parthenogenesis (the ability of workers to lay diploid, female-destined eggs without mating) is interesting but perplexing
As it happens, "thelytokous parthenogenesis" is not unique to capensis, and therefore cannot be used as a certain sign that capensis genes are present. This paper was discussed here briefly when it came out (see archives):
Rosalyn GLOAG, Emily J. REMNANT, Benjamin P. OLDROYD. The frequency of thelytokous parthenogenesis in European-derived Apis mellifera virgin queens. Apidologie (2019) 50:295–303
> virgin A. mellifera queens of European origin were sham inseminated with saline and/or narcotised with carbon dioxide. Of 20 queens, 17 (85%) produced at least one daughter thelytokously during an 8-week period. One exceptional queen produced 19% thelytokous progeny, though few total offspring (20 daughters in 107 pupae).
> These results are consistent with observations from the pre-molecular biology era that virgin honey bee queens of non-African subspecies regularly produce thelytokous offspring at low frequency and indicate that there is significant natural variation in the capacity for thelytoky among these queens.
> In social Hymenoptera, thelytoky can occur in queens or workers and has profound consequences for the kin structure of insect societies. For example, worker thelytoky means that unmated laying workers can be genetically reincarnated as the next queen. [This] suggests that there is pre-existing genetic variation for thelytoky in most or all honey bee populations.
posted by Peter L Borst
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