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posted by mrpg on Tuesday February 19 2019, @05:51AM   Printer-friendly
from the bees-believe-in-vaccines dept.

The key to breeding disease-resistant honeybees could lie in a group of genes -- known for controlling hygienic behaviour -- that enable colonies to limit the spread of harmful mites and bacteria, according to genomics research conducted at York University.

Some worker honeybees detect and remove sick and dead larvae and pupae from their colonies. This hygienic behaviour, which has a strong genetic component, is known to improve the colony's chance of survival. The researchers narrowed in on the "clean" genes that influence this behaviour to understand the evolution of this unique trait.

The finding, published today in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, could lead to a new technique for use in selective breeding programs around the world to enhance the health of honeybees.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @10:38PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @10:38PM (#803720)

    That is what they primarily bee keep with in Brazil from an article I read, even have some docile lines.

    Read up on how honey was collected in Africa, then you will understand how aggressiveness became a primary trait of african honeybees.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @10:46PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @10:46PM (#803723)

    "Honey is harvested by the use of fire or live torches which burn the insects to death."

    http://www.fao.org/3/t0104e/T0104E04.htm [fao.org]