These are excerpts from one lab's attempt to modify honey bee genome with CRISPR:

Creating animal models by using genome modification has gotten significantly more accessible thanks to the CRISPR-Cas9 technique. In this study, we aimed to the implement the CRISPR-Cas9 methodology in the European honeybee (Apis mellifera)

In order to simplify the production of these animal models, we test the use of sperm mediated gene transfer (SMGT) in combination with CRISPR-Cas9. Honeybees are highly eusocial insects that develop specific phenotypical features because of differential feeding regimes in the larval stage. Since the genetic basis of each honeybee is similar, these features result from a change in the epigenome of the insects. Investigating the underlying mechanisms of honeybee development using genome modification will aid in uncovering these complex genetic regulatory systems. In honeybees, we have attempted to induce genome modification in the cinnabar gene through microinjection and feeding of CRISPR-Cas9 components to larvae.

The use of CRISPR-Cas9 quickly became general practice for laboratory insects, such as fruit flies and mosquitos. However, a non-model organism like the honeybee is more difficult to edit due to the difficulty of maintaining these insects in a laboratory.

We designed an assay to treat larvae with Cas9 components and knockout the cinnabar gene to generate honeybees with a visibly reduced level of pigment in their eyes. We microinjected honeybee larvae directly after hatching with Cas9 protein or Cas9 mRNA in combination with four sgRNAs. We also setup experiments in which we fed larvae Cas9 mRNA and sgRNAs. The trials with microinjection and feeding did not generate honeybees with visible loss of pigment in the eyes

Since microinjection is an invasive procedure, we would like to use SMGT [Sperm mediated gene transfer] as an alternative for the transfer of our Cas9 components. It has been reported that sperm-mediated gene transformation (SMGT) is able to introduce DNA and produce transgenic honeybees (Robinson et al., 2000). We have tested whether a Cas9-sgRNA plasmid was able to induce genome modifications in honeybee semen, but it was unsuccessful. 

Pen, Anja. "CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in honeybee and pig." (2018).

[honestly, I find it refreshing that researchers are finding this type of genetic alteration of honey bees not that easy to do. PLB]

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