Termite Genome Explains Details of Their Caste System
May 21, 2014| |
Scientists at Arizona State University collected dampwood termites (Zootermopsis nevadensis nuttingi) from Monterey, California and sequenced their genomes to measure how the genes were expressed. The results explained a number of points about the termites' sexual, and social behaviors.
The researchers found that a large percentage of the termite genes are turned off by chemical tags or methyl groups. This was also evident in honeybees wherein methylation sets the fate of individual animals, determining their position in the caste system. Termites, like ants, also communicate using chemical smell signals sensed by receptors by using the antennas.
The study also revealed that the termites have far fewer cell types for recognizing individual chemicals, probably because they rarely face off against foreign termites or search for food. They simply don't need to recognize as many smells, said Jürgen Liebig, leader of the study.
Read more at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/termite-genome-reveals-details-of-caste-system/
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