Epigenetics
The idea that an animal or plant is merely the product of the genes inherited from its parents is increasingly being questioned. Until now, it was known that the environment can influence the appearance or behavior of living beings (the phenotype) to a considerable extent. However, it has been shown that in some cases, environmental influences can be passed on to subsequent generations without changing the genetic information itself. The entirety of the mechanisms that control this heritable component influenced by environmental factors is referred to as “epigenetics.”
Epigenetic reversibility.
For a long time, it was believed that the genetic code of an organism determined its biological characteristics, its development and its adaptation to its environment. Since the genomes of many organisms, including the honey bee, have been mapped, it has become clear that there are significant differences between what the genome dictates and the appearance or functioning of the same organism. A part of the DNA, referred to as the epigenetic code, modulates and influences the expected biological traits. In practice, and in simplified terms, a fertilised egg laid by a queen can develop into either a worker or a queen depending on the available nutrition; a worker begins her life as a nurse and ends it as a forager. These two activities are fundamentally different and involve clearly distinct competencies. Most interestingly, this progression of tasks in a worker can be reversible. A forager can revert to being a nurse if required; a worker can even begin to lay eggs!
► www.nature.com
► www.nature.com
See also:
- Epigenetics Takes the Lead over Genetics
- DNA Adaptation According to Role
- The Honey Bee Genome
- Introduction to Honey Bee Genetics
- Biology and Physiology of the Honey Bee