Scientists Uncover Evolutionary History of Honeybees

Scientists are learning a bit more about honeybees. They've conducted the first ever global analysis of genome variation in these insects, revealing a bit more about their genetic diversity and evolutionary history.

The honeybee is a huge part of our agricultural endeavors. In fact, one third of our food is dependent on the pollination of fruits, nuts and vegetables by bees and other insects. Recently, though, there have been extensive declines in honeybee populations due to disease, climate change, and other risks. That's why understanding their genetics could be a good way to better preserve these insects in the future.

"We have used state-of-the-art high-throughput genomics to address these questions, and have identified high levels of genetic diversity in honeybees," said Matthew Webster, one of the researchers, in a news release. "In contrast to other domestic species, management of honeybees seems to have increased levels of genetic variation by mixing bees from different parts of the world. The findings may also indicate that high levels of inbreeding are not a major cause of global colony losses."

The researchers found that honeybees actually evolved from an ancient lineage of cavity-nesting bees that arrived from Asia about 300,000 years ago. After that, these insects rapidly spread across Europe and Africa. This actually contradicts previous research which indicated that bees originated from Africa. That's not all, either. The researchers also identified specific mutations in genes important in adaptation to factors such as climate and pathogens, including those involved in morphology and behavior.

"This study provides new insights into evolution and genetic adaptation, and establishes a framework for investigating the biological mechanisms behind disease resistance and adaptation to climate, knowledge that could be vital for protecting honeybees in a rapidly changing world," said Webster.

The findings reveal a little bit more about honeybees. This, in turn, could allow scientists to develop more conservation measures in order to help these insects in the future.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Genetics.