2018/09/12 by Comzit Opachaloemphan, Hua Yan, Alexandra Leibholz +2 · 70 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Biology #Ecology #Epigenetics #Eusociality #Evolutionary biology #Foraging #Gene #Genetics #Hymenoptera #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research #Plant and animal studies #Sex pheromone
paper · pdf · doi:10.1146/annurev-genet-120116-024456
published in Annual Review of Genetics 52(1), 489-510 (Annual Reviews)
openalex publication_date 2018/09/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Eusocial insects live in societies in which distinct family members serve specific roles in maintaining the colony and advancing the reproductive ability of a few select individuals. Given the genetic similarity of all colony members, the diversity of morphologies and behaviors is surprising. Social communication relies on pheromones and olfaction, as shown by mutants of orco, the universal odorant receptor coreceptor, and through electrophysiological analysis of neuronal responses to pheromones. Additionally, neurohormonal factors and epigenetic regulators play a key role in caste-specific behavior, such as foraging and caste switching. These studies start to allow an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior and provide a technological foundation for future studies of eusocial insects. In this review, we highlight recent findings in eusocial insects that advance our understanding of genetic and epigenetic regulations of social behavior and provide perspectives on future studies using cutting-edge technologies.