Science updates: Genome-wide patterns & honey bees

 

Science updates:

Genome-wide patterns & honey bees

 

 

The research article by Saelao et al. in BMC Genomics (2020) investigates the genetic diversity and differentiation within and among commercial honey bee stocks in the United States. Despite the economic importance of honey bees (Apis mellifera) as pollinators, the population genetics of U.S. honey bee stocks are not well understood. The study used pooled sequencing to analyze eight honey bee stocks, revealing strong genetic similarity among six of them. Two stocks, Pol-line and Hilo, showed significant differentiation, likely due to their closed breeding programs for Varroa mite resistance.

 

The research identified few stock-specific variants, suggesting potential admixture among the sequenced stocks. Genes and genomic regions associated with disease and parasite resistance, particularly hygienic behavior, were highlighted. The study concludes that there is a high level of admixture in commercially managed honey bee stocks, and breeding efforts for parasite resistance may have created unique genetic profiles. It suggests that further research into gene expression, epigenetics, and regulatory information is needed to fully understand the genetic diversity of honey bee stocks.

 

The article emphasizes the importance of managing genetic diversity in breeding programs to ensure the success and sustainability of honey bee populations. It also provides insights into the genetic characteristics and population diversity of honey bee stocks used in the United States, which could inform the development of genetic markers for selecting disease and parasite resistance traits. The findings could contribute to the improvement of honey bee breeding programs and the health of honey bee colonies.

 

 

Reference:

Saelao, P., Simone-Finstrom, M., Avalos, A., Bilodeau, L., Danka, R., De Guzman, L., ... & Tokarz, P. (2020). Genome-wide patterns of differentiation within and among US commercial honey bee stocks. BMC genomics, 21, 1-12.

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