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The honeybee as a model insect for developmental genetics
Author(s) -
Cridge A.G.,
Lovegrove M.R.,
Skelly J.G.,
Taylor S.E.,
Petersen G.E.L.,
Cameron R.C.,
Dearden P.K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.23019
Subject(s) - biology , insect , developmental plasticity , model system , developmental biology , developmental genetics , evolutionary biology , drosophila (subgenus) , zoology , plasticity , ecology , genetics , computational biology , gene , regulation of gene expression , physics , thermodynamics
Honeybees are an important component of modern agricultural systems, and a fascinating and scientifically engrossing insect. Honeybees are not commonly used as model systems for understanding development in insects despite their importance in agriculture. Honeybee embryogenesis, while being superficially similar to Drosophila , is molecularly very different, especially in axis formation and sex determination. In later development, much of honeybee biology is modified by caste development, an as yet poorly understood, but excellent, system to study developmental plasticity. In adult stages, developmental plasticity of the ovaries, related to reproductive constraint exhibits another aspect of plasticity. Here they review the tools, current knowledge and opportunities in honeybee developmental biology, and provide an updated embryonic staging scheme to support future studies.