Consistency and proximate mechanisms of genetic effects on behavior in ants

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Insect societies (ants, termites, bees and wasps) are characterized by the cooperation of individuals performing different tasks, a process known as division of labor. Social insects are great model systems to investigate the genetics of behavior because the likelihood and efficiency to perform a specific task (e.g., foraging for food or nursing the brood) have long been known to have genetic components. Some of our recent studies have revealed genetic effects on division of labor to be more complex than mere allelic differences among individuals, thus illustrating that many aspects of the genetics of social behavior remain to be understood. These include the consistency of genetic effects over time and across contexts, and the proximate mechanisms translating genetic differences into behavioral variation. In this project, we will tackle these issues by using the Argentine ant Linepithema humile to perform controlled crosses in the laboratory, thus allowing us to quantify the relative influence of both parental genetic backgrounds on behavior. To assess the consistency of genetic effects, behavioral experiments will be performed at different time points and in different social contexts. To investigate the proximate mechanisms, we will combine RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and RNA interference (RNAi) to experimentally identify the genes, modules of co-expressed genes and gene networks regulating the genetic effects on behavior in ants. Overall, this project will not only provide a better understanding of the genetic influences on division of labor in insect societies, but also improve the general knowledge of the genetics of behavior.