Evolution of eusociality mediated by the co-option of physiological mechanisms

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870121
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior; Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: OKADA Yasukazu 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 助教 (10638597)
• Research Collaborator: Mikheyev Alexander S.
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: カースト分化 / 分業 / 表現型可塑性 / 生態発生学 / 社会性昆虫 / 進化発生学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, using a monomorphic queenless ant, Diacamma sp., we identified genes associated with monomorphic caste differentiation, specifically focusing on the onset of queen-worker differentiation. Using RNA-seq, qPCR and topical application of drugs, the study revealed 1) queen has heightened level of brain dopamine and this dopamine has gonadotropic neurohormonal effects, 2) genes involved in nutrition processing and storage, such as insulin-signaling genes and hexamerins, were strongly altered soon after dominance rank formation. These lines of evidence suggest that workers deploy physiological characteristics of diapause phase in solitary insects, so that they can reduce metabolic and reproductive activities.

Free Research Field

生態発生学　行動学　生理学