We (@rileyshultz.bsky.social) tracked a recessive mutation from birth to death in honey bees. It causes ivory eyes. We collaborated across the continent to identify the mutation and it's downstream effects. Ultimately it is purified through selection on drones. We think Hamilton would be pleased!

Molecular Biology and Evolution@molbioevol.bsky.social · 6d ago

Shultz @beeharpur.bsky.social et al. documented the trajectory of a spontaneous deleterious mutation from its origin in a single queen to its extinction, directly observing how haplodiploidy exposes recessive alleles to immediate purifying selection 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag156 #societyjournal

We worked with a beekeeper in Kentucky (and third author) to identify what was causing half of his drones to have white eyes. We were able to identify a recessively-acting mutation in an uncharacterized ncRNA. Great work here by much of the lab and especially the lead, PhD Candidate Riley Shultz

RES Publications@respublications.bsky.social · 8mo ago

New #OpenAccess work in #RESInsectMolecBio Eye can see clearly now: Identifying the locus associated with a white-eye mutation in honey #bees (#Apis mellifera) doi.org/10.1111/imb.70019 #CommunityScience #FunctionalGenomics @sassanasgari.bsky.social @gulianusslab.bsky.social @wileyeco.bsky.social