> Looking for Mr. Good Gene
Looking for Mr. Good Gene
Contact:
Tanja Schwander, 778.782.5625 (lab), 778.782.3540 (o), 778.997.6553 (cell), tsa19@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
Tanja Schwander, 778.782.5625 (lab), 778.782.3540 (o), 778.997.6553 (cell), tsa19@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
October 24, 2008
The search for genetic compatibility determines why harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex rugosus), social insects living in the deserts of the United States and Mexico, are polygamous and what their function is in life. Simon Fraser University biologist Tanja Schwander made this groundbreaking observation upon discovering, during her doctoral studies, that genetic compatibility is key to the survival of harvester ant colonies.
Schwander’s findings have just been published in the October issue of Science.
While doing her doctorate in Switzerland, Schwander, now a biologist in Bernie Crespi’s lab, found that genetic interaction and compatibility determine whether female harvester ants develop into sterile workers or reproducing queens. Males serve only as breeding partners and live only a few days after mating.
Given that the genetic compatibility of the ant couple determines the role of their offspring, the queen has to mate with several different males to ensure there are enough queens and workers.
“Too many queens would mean the colony doesn’t have enough workers to maintain and defend the nest or take care of the developing brood,” explains Schwander, a Switzerland-born Burnaby resident. “Too many workers would mean there wouldn’t be enough queens to start new colonies.
“This is very fundamental research right now. But it opens up new paths for exploring how the appearance, behaviour and health of species, even humans, evolve in the face of environmental factors over time,” notes Schwander.
Schwander’s doctoral thesis investigated newly discovered holes in a longstanding theory about social insects.
It postulated that environmental factors, such as food and temperature, were behind social insects’ polygamous behaviour and determined their function in life. They rely on a caste system consisting of workers and queens to maintain their society. New evidence that genetics may also play a role poked holes in the theory and was what piqued Schwander’s interest.
— 30 — (electronic photo digital files available on request)
Schwander’s findings have just been published in the October issue of Science.
While doing her doctorate in Switzerland, Schwander, now a biologist in Bernie Crespi’s lab, found that genetic interaction and compatibility determine whether female harvester ants develop into sterile workers or reproducing queens. Males serve only as breeding partners and live only a few days after mating.
Given that the genetic compatibility of the ant couple determines the role of their offspring, the queen has to mate with several different males to ensure there are enough queens and workers.
“Too many queens would mean the colony doesn’t have enough workers to maintain and defend the nest or take care of the developing brood,” explains Schwander, a Switzerland-born Burnaby resident. “Too many workers would mean there wouldn’t be enough queens to start new colonies.
“This is very fundamental research right now. But it opens up new paths for exploring how the appearance, behaviour and health of species, even humans, evolve in the face of environmental factors over time,” notes Schwander.
Schwander’s doctoral thesis investigated newly discovered holes in a longstanding theory about social insects.
It postulated that environmental factors, such as food and temperature, were behind social insects’ polygamous behaviour and determined their function in life. They rely on a caste system consisting of workers and queens to maintain their society. New evidence that genetics may also play a role poked holes in the theory and was what piqued Schwander’s interest.
— 30 — (electronic photo digital files available on request)