Finland | Researchers at the University of Oulu have uncovered surprising findings about the genetic basis of social behavior in ants, revealing that complex colony structures can persist even after key genetic elements disappear.The study focused on how ant colonies organize themselves, particularly the difference between single-queen and multi-queen systems. In species like Myrmica ruginodis, scientists discovered a previously unknown “supergene” that determines both queen size and the number of queens within a colony.According to lead researcher Hanna Sigeman, these supergenes—large clusters of inherited genes—play a crucial role in shaping social traits. Interestingly, similar genetic mechanisms have evolved independently across different ant species.However, research on wood ants revealed an unexpected twist. A known supergene previously linked to multi-queen colonies had completely disappeared in some species, yet colonies continued to function with hundreds of queens.Research leader Lumi Viljakainen explained that certain genes from the lost supergene had relocated within the genome, possibly maintaining the ability for multiple queens to coexist.The findings suggest that evolution is more flexible than previously thought, capable of reshaping or even discarding complex genetic systems while still preserving important social behaviors.This research provides new insights into evolutionary biology, highlighting that social traits can survive major genetic changes and that evolution often finds multiple solutions to the same challenge.
Source: University of Oulu
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