Honey bee colony aggression linked to gene regulatory networks

In honey bees, the function a bee performs within the colony modifications as they age. Youthful bees carry out duties contained in the hive, equivalent to nursing and wax constructing, whereas older bees transition to roles outdoors of the hive, both foraging for meals (foragers) or defending the colony (troopers). What determines whether or not older bees turn out to be foragers or troopers is unknown, however a brand new studyexplores the genetic mechanisms underlying the collective habits of colony protection, and the way these mechanisms relate to the colony’s general aggression.