Supersoldier ants created in the lab by reactivating ancestral genes by Lin Edwards There are over 1100 species of Pheidole genus ants, and most individual ants belong to either the worker or soldier caste. In only eight of the Pheidole species, some individuals can belong to a “supersoldier” subcaste instead, and these ants fight off predatory army ant species and bar their way by blocking off the entrances to the nest using their over-sized heads. Now, scientists have managed to create supersoldiers in other species by reactivating ancestral genes.  (Read more: PhysOrg) ____________________________________________ reference: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/335/6064/79?utm_content=tweetdeck&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=science&utm_source=shortener View high resolution

Supersoldier ants created in the lab by reactivating ancestral genes

by Lin Edwards

There are over 1100 species of Pheidole genus ants, and most individual ants belong to either the worker or soldier caste. In only eight of the Pheidole species, some individuals can belong to a “supersoldier” subcaste instead, and these ants fight off predatory army ant species and bar their way by blocking off the entrances to the nest using their over-sized heads. Now, scientists have managed to create supersoldiers in other species by reactivating ancestral genes. 

(Read more: PhysOrg)

____________________________________________

reference: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/335/6064/79?utm_content=tweetdeck&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=science&utm_source=shortener

Notes

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  14. onionhighonionandrenown reblogged this from shoulderfins and added:
    …why, in heaven’s name, would you DO such a thing? It’s like the start of a novel or a reasonably scary sci-fi movie.
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    this is horrifying.
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  26. theanalyzersfanfics reblogged this from polymethodic and added:
    Cool and all, but keep the lab where you are doing this tightly secured so we won’t have another Killer Bees incident!
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