Gene Expression Patterns for a Social Trait
Author Information
Author(s): John Wang, Kenneth G. Ross, Laurent Keller
Primary Institution: University of Lausanne
Hypothesis
How do interactions between genes and the environment influence social behavior in fire ants?
Conclusion
The study found that worker gene expression profiles in fire ants are more strongly influenced by the social environment than by their own genotype.
Supporting Evidence
- Differences in Gp-9 genotype are associated with the differential expression of a small number of genes.
- Worker gene expression profiles are influenced more by the social environment than by their own Gp-9 genotype.
- An unusual example of an 'extended phenotype' was observed.
Takeaway
Fire ants can have different social behaviors based on their genes, and how they behave is also affected by the other ants around them.
Methodology
Microarray analyses were performed on adult workers from polygyne and monogyne colonies to compare gene expression profiles.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the colony-level effects on gene expression.
Limitations
The use of whole worker bodies may decrease the probability of detecting genes with variable expression among cells or tissues.
Participant Demographics
Adult workers from 20 polygyne and 20 monogyne colonies.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.17E-04
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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