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SUMMARY:Evolution of ant social chromosomes and bumblebee diversity - Yann
 ick Wurm (Queen Mary University of London)
DTSTART:20181023T120000Z
DTEND:20181023T130000Z
UID:TALK110827@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Rebecca Kilner
DESCRIPTION:Ecological\, behavioural and theoretical studies have informed
  our understanding of the impacts and tradeoffs of different environments.
  In contrast\, we know relatively little about the genes and genetic archi
 tectures involved in responding or adapting to different environments. Two
  of our projects on social insects contribute to this understanding. \n\nA
  fundamental trait that varies throughout the ants is whether a colony wil
 l include one or several queens. In the fire ant we demonstrated that this
  dimorphism is determined by alternate variants of a "supergene" region >4
 00 protein-coding genes. Using population genomics\, phylogenetic and tran
 scriptomic approaches I will share our current understanding of the forces
  involved in the evolution and maintenance of this system\, and how it rev
 eals general processes.\n\nBumblebees are key pollinators that face many w
 idely publicised environmental challenges including habitat loss and pesti
 cide exposure. To complement traditional behavioural experiments\, we are 
 developing a molecular toolkit to examine pollinator health. This has iden
 tified genes and pathways involved in the response to pesticide exposure\,
  as well as regions in the genome with strong signs of recent sweeps in wi
 ld populations. 
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology \, Downing Street
 \, CB2 3EJ
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