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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: 2) by MostCynical on Tuesday February 19 2019, @08:47AM (4 children)

    by MostCynical (2589) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @08:47AM (#803405) Journal

    Does this help eugenics proponents?

    --
    "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
    • (Score: 3, Touché) by Gaaark on Tuesday February 19 2019, @09:32AM (1 child)

      by Gaaark (41) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @09:32AM (#803412) Journal

      You should see their little showers: they switched zyklon B for neonicotinoid BZZZZ

      --
      --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
    • (Score: 2) by fyngyrz on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:32PM (1 child)

      by fyngyrz (6567) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:32PM (#803522) Journal

      I'm just imagining the bees buzzing in tiny bee-speak: "SPAAAAARTA!"

      --
      But, Your Honor, the light had dopplered to green.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @07:24PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @07:24PM (#803624)

        I think that is:
        point 45* walk waggle waggle walk walk
        turn straight down, walk walk waggle walk
        point at staring position waggle waggle walk walk waggle walk
        repeat as long as needed.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @11:40AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @11:40AM (#803428)

    Now we need an additional label to distinguish *food* from all the products that enrich Monsanto (and similar companies that are messing with the food chain for their profit):

    "Genetically modified organisms were not used in pollinating this crop."

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:26PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:26PM (#803486)
    ... always works out so well. Does anyone remember "africanized" honeybees, aka "Killer Bees?"
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:46PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:46PM (#803499)

      That's where they're getting this gene from most likely. European bred their bees to be slobbish and do nothing except make honey. Wild bees are very clean, and African bees are especially so.

    • (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]

  • (Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:45PM

    by PinkyGigglebrain (4458) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:45PM (#803498)

    Sometimes the weirdest things go through my mind when I read Soylent.

    After reading the article summary "The Green Brain" [wikipedia.org] by Frank Herbert , a book I have not thought of in literally decades, popped into my head. There were these genetically engineered butterfly/bee creatures briefly mentioned in the book that Humanity had created to take care of pollination after the Honeybees had been all but wiped out.

    I found it to be a strange but interesting read, like most of Herberts's works.

    --
    "Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
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