In a message dated 21/07/2009 18:35:37 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Trans-generational effects on immunity are well known  from
vertebrates, but their existence in invertebrates  remains
controversial.


I'm totally unqualified in this field (to get my disclaimer in early!)  but 
am happy to display my ignorance for other to shoot down. 
 
It is well known that immunity in mammals can be passed down via the  
mammary glands (and probably also via the placenta) and I would guess that this  
applies to all 'germs' to which the female parent has been non-fatally  
exposed.
 
I would like an explanation as to the mechanism by which creatures  
delivered without benefit of placenta or mammary can receive immunity from their  
parents.  Thinking as I type (or maybe a very short time before!) I  
speculate that non-fatal viruses (viri?) might invade and bond with the DNA of  the 
parent and thus become part of the imago and not part of the problem; but  
what about bacteria?
 
Darwin would have said (maybe) that susceptible would-be parents don't  
actually get to become parents because early death or unfitness take them out 
of  the race and the winners' DNA take all onto the next generation.  
 
In honeybees, the part of the genome devoted to immunity is reported  to be 
small when compared to the limited  range of other insects  studied.  Thus 
I would suspect that a higher proportion of immunity would  be behavioural 
and environmental rather that genetically conferred. I am  thinking of 
hygienic behaviour, good nutrition via a broad range of nectar, and,  (especially) 
pollens and the availability of and inclination to collect  propolis from a 
variety of sources.
 
In olden times propolis was looked upon as a nuisance and beekeepers  and 
breeders selected in favour of those stocks less inclined to  collect it.  I 
wonder whether, several generations down the line, we are  now reaping what 
we sowed?
 
Chris.

             ***********************************************
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