Meeting Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are known for age-based differentiation of labor, where adult female workers engage in nursing and other in-hive tasks until they begin foraging after about three weeks. Herb et al. (2012) utilized comprehensive high-throughput array-based relative methylation (CHARM) confirmed with whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to determine candidate genes which are subject to differently methylated regions (DMRs). 57 genes are similar in percentage methylation between nurses and reverted nurses, but differ between reverted nurses and forager bees. We used a single-cohort model in order to capture nurses and precocious foragers (age matched at day 13) immediately at their first sign of foraging behavior. Using our own DMR parameters, we narrowed the 57 candidates to 3, examining expression levels and possible alternative splicing events within full-brain and fat body dissections. Due to our nature of phenotyping, gene candidates and their degrees of methylation may resolve causes or effects of the transition to foraging behavior.
