Gene study boosts bid to keep British bees safe from disease

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Efforts to protect the UK's native honey bees could be helped by research that maps their entire genetic make-up.

Experts also analysed the genetic profile of bacteria and other organisms that live inside , to shed new light on emerging diseases that threaten bee colonies.

Researchers say their findings could help to safeguard native bee populations from the effects of infectious diseases through improved health monitoring.

Bees play a vital role in helping to pollinate crops and wild plants, so minimising risks to them is crucial.

A team led by the University of Edinburgh analysed the entire genetic makeup of from across the UK and compared them with recently imported bees.

They found that bees from some in Scotland were genetically very similar to the UK's native dark bee, even though southern European strains have been imported for many years

The researchers from the University's Roslin Institute say this is good news as native bees were thought to be endangered in the UK. They suggest this could mean that native bees survive better in cooler climates than their relatives from southern Europe.

The team also analysed the genetic makeup of bacteria and other organisms that live inside bees—the so-called metagenome.

The findings uncovered organisms that had not been seen before in honey bees and that may cause disease. Hives that are infected with these may also be more susceptible to other infections.

More information: Tim Regan et al, Characterisation of the British honey bee metagenome, Nature Communications (2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07426-0

Journal information: Nature Communications

Citation: Gene study boosts bid to keep British bees safe from disease (2018, November 27) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2018-11-gene-boosts-british-bees-safe.html
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