Bumblebee worker reproduction as an independent test of Haig's kinship theory for the evolution of genomic imprinting

This project will independently test the major theory for the evolution of genomic imprinting, by examining the parent of origin allele specific expression of genes important for bumblebee worker reproduction. My group has pioneered the study of both worker reproduction gene expression and allele specific expression in bumblebees.

Genomic imprinting is the differential expression of alleles in diploid individuals, with the expression being dependent upon the sex of the parent from which it was inherited. It is an important area of research in evolutionary biology, in human health (cancers and developmental syndromes) and in plant breeding. Haig's kinship theory is the leading theory explaining the evolution of genomic imprinting. It predicts that genes that are upregulated when queenless bumblebee workers reproduce should be more expressed from the allele from the mother (matrigene). The reciprocal is also predicted, that genes upregulated in non-reproductive workers should be patrigenically (allele from the father) expressed. As, so far no imprinted genes have been discovered in bumblebees, this project is a truly independent test of a major evolutionary theory.

In order to test Haig's kinship theory we need to deliver three aims:-
* produce queenless reproducing workers from maximally heterozygous reciprocally crossed bumblebee colonies.
* identify candidate imprinted genes in queenless reproductive workers.
* test the predictions of Haig's kinship theory that imprinted genes that are upregulated in queenless reproductive workers should be matrigenically expressed and that imprinted genes that are upregulated in non-reproductive workers should be patrigenically expressed.


The proposed project will use whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to examine the matrigenic and patrigenic expression of known worker reproduction genes in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris in order to test Haig's theory for the evolution of genomic imprinting.

We will achieve our aims by carrying out three objectives:-
* We will use established breeding techniques and genetically distant colonies in order to produce ten heterozygous reciprocally crossed bumblebee colonies from each of which we will collect six queenless reproducing workers.
* We will analyse RNA-seq libraries of the brains of three reproducing workers from each of these ten colonies in order to identify candidate imprinted genes in queenless reproductive workers.
* We will measure, using an independent technique, the allele specific expression of candidate imprinted genes in three further reproducing workers per colony, in order to test the predictions of Haig's kinship theory.


This project is "an unusual opportunity for a truly blind test of a sociobiological theory" (Queller 2002). We will publish our results in peer reviewed journals and present them at international conferences. All datasets will be made available on public databases.

We expect that the specific users and beneficiaries of our research (outside of the academic community) will be environmental operators, leaders of commerce, policymakers, educators and, more widely, the general public. We will engage with these groups using different methods of disseminating information which will be facilitated by GENIE (Genetics Education Networking for Innovation and Excellence). GENIE is a Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) which is run by Prof Annette Cashmore in the Department of Genetics

Bumblebee breeding is an important industry in Europe. Our results may allow more efficient production of males and females. The University of Leicester has a vigorous and experienced "Enterprise & Business Development" team and an embedded unit ("The Biobator"), dedicated to exploitation of activities arising from work in biological research. In year 1 we will arrange a calendar of engagement sessions with The Biobator to discuss potential commercial applications of the research and to train project staff in knowledge transfer (KT) skills. Biobator staff will arrange appointments, aid us in seeking industrial partners, publicize and negotiate with regional organisations and seek opportunities for consultancy and KT activities.