Who's queen? Insulin signaling key to caste development in bees
Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 16:21
in Biology & Nature
What makes a bee grow up to be a queen? Scientists have long pondered this mystery. Now, researchers have fit a new piece into the puzzle of bee development -- a piece that also illuminates understanding about our own development and aging. The study shows that a key protein in the insulin signaling pathway plays a strong role in caste development among bees.