Open AccessParent of origin gene expression in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris , supports Haig's kinship theory for the evolution of genomic imprinting
Author(s) -
Marshall Hollie,
van Zweden Jelle S.,
Van Geystelen Anneleen,
Benaets Kristof,
Wäckers Felix,
Mallon Eamonn B.,
Wenseleers Tom
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
evolution letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2056-3744
DOI - 10.1002/evl3.197
Subject(s) - genomic imprinting , biology , imprinting (psychology) , genetics , eusociality , kinship , gene , allele , bombus terrestris , evolutionary biology , hymenoptera , gene expression , zoology , dna methylation , ecology , pollen , pollinator , pollination , political science , law
Genomic imprinting is the differential expression alleles in diploid individuals, with the expression being dependent on the sex of the parent from which it was inherited. Haig's kinship theory hypothesizes that genomic imprinting is due to an evolutionary conflict of interest between alleles from the mother and father. In social insects, it has been suggested that genomic imprinting should be widespread. One recent study identified parent‐of‐origin expression in honey bees and found evidence supporting the kinship theory. However, little is known about genomic imprinting in insects and multiple theoretical predictions must be tested to avoid single‐study confirmation bias. We, therefore, tested for parent‐of‐origin expression in a primitively eusocial bee. We found equal numbers of maternally and paternally biased expressed genes. The most highly biased genes were maternally expressed, offering support for the kinship theory. We also found low conservation of potentially imprinted genes with the honey bee, suggesting rapid evolution of genomic imprinting in Hymenoptera.