Selfish genes: a green beard in the red fire ant

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_2497FCBEC109
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Selfish genes: a green beard in the red fire ant
Journal
Nature
Author(s)
Keller  L., Ross  K. G.
ISSN
0028-0836
Publication state
Published
Issued date
08/1998
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
394
Number
6693
Pages
573-575
Notes
107YN Times Cited:97 Cited References Count:20 --- Old month value: Aug 6
Abstract
A 'green-beard' gene is defined as a gene that causes a phenotypic effect (such as the presence of a green beard or any other conspicuous feature), allows the bearer of this feature to recognize it in other individuals, and causes the bearer to behave differently towards other individuals depending on whether or not they possess the feature(1-3). Such genes have been proposed oil theoretical grounds to be agents mediating both altruism and intragenomic conflicts(1,2), but until now few, if any, of these genes have been identified(4,5). Here we provide evidence of a green-beard gene in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. In polygyne (multiple-queen) colonies, all egg-laying queens are Bb heterozygotes at the locus Gp-9 (ref. 6). Previous studies suggested that bb females die prematurely from intrinsic causes(6); we now show that BE queens initiating reproduction are killed by workers, and that it is primarily Bb rather than BE workers that are responsible for these executions. This implies that allele Gp-9(b) is linked to a green-beard allele that preferentially induces workers bearing the allele to kill all queens that do not bear it. Workers appear to distinguish BB from Bb queens on the basis of a transferable odour cue.
Keywords
solenopsis-invicta social insect queen number selection colonies drive
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2008 18:39
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:02
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