Honey bee genome sequenced Genetic sequence generates research buzz. 9 January 2004 HELEN R. PILCHER
A draft version of the honey bee genome has been made available to the public - a move that should
benefit bees and humans alike.
The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is multi-talented. It produces honey, pollinates crops and is used by
researchers to study human genetics, ageing, disease and social behaviour. "Without bees and
pollination, the entire ecosystem would crumble," says Richard Gibbs, who led the sequencing effort
at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.
Its genome is about one-tenth the size of its human equivalent, containing about 300 million DNA
base pairs. Because the genome is relatively small, genes should be easy to identify, says bee
researcher Steve Martin from the University of Sheffield, UK. Many of these will be similar to their
human counterparts, he says.
The bee genome may also help us understand the genetics of ageing and social behaviour, says Martin.
Queen bees, for example, can live five times as long as their subordinates. Unpicking their genes
may help researchers understand why.
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Posted by Robert Karl Stonjek.