Bee genome published Oct. 26, 2006

The honey bee genome was published in the Oct. 26, 2006, issue of Nature, by the Honeybee Genome Sequencing Consortium. Companion articles appeared on the same date in Nature and the same week in the journals Science, Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (PNAS), and special issues of Genome Research and Insect Molecular Biology. Publication of the genome was also widely reported in the popular press.

BeeSpace co-investigator Gene E. Robinson is co-leader of the Consortium and was lead author of the original whitepaper for the sequencing. BeeSpace co-investigators Susan Fahrbach, Sandra Rodriguez-Zas and ChengXiang Zhai each authored a companion paper, and project-affiliated graduate student Xu Ling co-authored a paper. Project-affiliated researchers Saurabh Sinha and Charles Whitfield also each authored a paper.

Links to each of the articles may be found below. Papers authored or co-authored by BeeSpace-affiliated individuals are marked with an asterisk (*). Some of these links require institutional or individual subscriptions to access the full text. (The University of Illinois, like many academic institutions, is an institutional subscriber.)

[in Nature] [in Science] [in PNAS] [in Genome Research] [in Insect Molecular Biology] [in popular press]

Articles appearing in Nature, Oct. 26, 2006

• Editor's Summary: Honeybee genome. Full Text
• Editorial: Plan bee. Another day, another genome. Nature 443, 884. Full Text | PDF (89K)
• Check, Erika. From hive minds to humans: Honeybee genome offers insight into social behaviour. Nature 443, 893. Full Text | PDF (236K)
• Wilson, Edward O. Genomics: How to make a social insect. Nature 443, 919-920. Full Text | PDF (349K)
• * The Honeybee Genome Sequencing Consortium. Insights into social insects from the genome of the honeybee Apis mellifera. Nature 443, 931-949. Abstract | Full Text | PDF (4,656K)

Articles appearing in Science, Oct. 26, 2006

• Pennisi, Elizabeth. Honey bee genome illuminates insect evolution and social behavior. Science 27 October 2006: Vol. 314. no. 5799, pp. 578 - 579. Link
• * Whitfield, Charles W., et al. Thrice out of Africa: ancient and recent expansions of the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Science 27 October 2006: Vol. 314. no. 5799, pp. 642 - 645. Link
• Hummon, Amanda B., et al. From the genome to the proteome: Uncovering peptides in the Apis brain. Science 27 October 2006: Vol. 314. no. 5799, pp. 647 - 649. Link
• Wang, Ying, et al. Functional CpG methylation system in a social insect. Science 27 October 2006: Vol. 314. no. 5799, pp. 645 - 647. Link
• Poinar, G. O., and B. N. Danforth. A Fossil Bee from Early Cretaceous Burmese Amber. Science 27 October 2006: Vol. 314. no. 5799, p. 614. Link

Articles appearing in PNAS, Oct. 31, 2006

• * Sinha, Saurabh, Xu Ling, Charles W. Whitfield, Chengxiang Zhai, and Gene E. Robinson. Genome scan for cis-regulatory DNA motifs associated with social behavior in honey bees. PNAS, 103(44): 16352 - 16357. Abstract | PDF
• * Whitfield, Charles, Yehuda Ben-Shahar, Charles Brillet, Isabelle Leoncini, Didier Crauser, Yves LeConte, Sandra Rodriguez-Zas, and Gene E. Robinson. Genomic dissection of behavioral maturation in the honey bee. PNAS, 103(44): 16068-16075 Abstract | PDF (No subscription required)
• Zagorski, Nick. Profile of Gene E. Robinson. Abstract | PDF

Articles appearing in Genome Research, Oct. 25, 2006

Note: Articles in this special issue of Genome Research require no subscription for full text access.

• Beye, Martin, et al. Exceptionally high levels of recombination across the honey bee genome.  Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5680406 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Elsik, Christine G., et al. Community annotation: Procedures, protocols, and supporting tools.  Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5580606 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Savard, Joël, et al. Phylogenomic analysis reveals bees and wasps (Hymenoptera) at the base of the radiation of Holometabolous insects. Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5204306 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Dearden, Peter K., et al. Patterns of conservation and change in honey bee developmental genes.  Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5108606 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Rubin, Elad B., et al. Molecular and phylogenetic analyses reveal mammalian-like clockwork in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and shed new light on the molecular evolution of the circadian clock. Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5094806 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Robertson, Hugh M., et al. Canonical TTAGG-repeat telomeres and telomerase in the honey bee Apis mellifera. Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5085606 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Forêt, Sylvain, and Maleszka, Ryszard. Function and evolution of a gene family encoding odorant binding-like proteins in a social insect, the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5075706 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Robertson, Hugh M., and Kevin W. Wanner. The chemoreceptor superfamily in the honey bee Apis mellifera: Expansion of the odorant, but not gustatory, receptor family. Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5057506 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Sutherland, Tara D., et al. A highly divergent gene cluster in honey bees encodes a novel silk family.  Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5052606 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Drapeau, Mark David, et al. Evolution of the Yellow/Major Royal Jelly Protein family and the emergence of social behaviorin honey bees. Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.5012006 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Kaplan, Noam, and Linial, Michal. ProtoBee: Hierarchical classification and annotation of the honey bee proteome. Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.4916306 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Cho, Soochin, et al. Evolution of the complementary sex-determination gene of honey bees: Balancing selectionand trans-species polymorphisms. Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.4695306 [Abstract] [PDF]
• Jones, Andrew K., et al. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene family of the honey bee, Apis mellifera Genome Res. 10.1101/gr.4549206 [Abstract] [PDF]

Articles appearing in Insect Molecular Biology, October 2006

Note: Articles in this special issue of Insect Molecular Biology require no subscription for full text access.

• Field, Lin, et al. Editorial. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 533. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• * Robinson, G.E., et al. Sweetness and light: Illuminating the honey bee genome. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 535. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Thompson, G. J., et al. Towards a molecular definition of worker sterility: differential gene expression and reproductive plasticity in honey bees. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 537. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Collins, A. M., et al. Proteomic analyses of male contributions to honey bee sperm storage and mating. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 541. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Eisenhardt, D., et al. The PKA-CREB system encoded by the honeybee genome Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 551. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Kunieda, T., et al. Carbohydrate metabolism genes and pathways in insects: insights from the honey bee genome. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 563. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Peiren, N., et al. Genomic and transcriptional analysis of protein heterogeneity of the honeybee venom allergen Api m 6. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 577. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• * Velarde, Rodrigo, Robinson, Gene E., and Susan E. Fahrbach. Nuclear receptors of the honey bee: annotation and expression in the adult brain. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 583. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• D. E. Wheeler, D. E., Buck, N., and Evans, J. D. Expression of insulin pathway genes during the period of caste determination in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 597. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Zou, Z., et al. Comparative analysis of serine protease-related genes in the honey bee genome: possible involvement in embryonic development and innate immunity. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 603. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Claudianos, C., et al. A deficit of detoxification enzymes: pesticide sensitivity and environmental response in the honeybee. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 615. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Evans, J. D., et al. Immune pathways and defence mechanisms in honey bees Apis mellifera. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 645. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Gillespie, J. J., et al. Characteristics of the nuclear (18S, 5.8S, 28S and 5S) and mitochondrial (12S and 16S) rRNA genes of Apis mellifera (Insecta: Hymenoptera): structure, organization, and retrotransposable elements. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 657. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Corona, M., and G. E. Robinson. Genes of the antioxidant system of the honey bee: annotation and phylogeny. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 687. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Cristino, A. S., et al. Caste development and reproduction: a genome-wide analysis of hallmarks of insect eusociality. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 703. Summary | Full Text | PDF
• Qin, X., et al. Genome sequences of the honey bee pathogens Paenibacillus larvae and Ascosphaera apis. Insect Molecular Biology 2006, 15:5, p. 715. Summary | Full Text | PDF

Accounts appearing elsewhere

• Brown, David. (Oct. 30, 2006). Honeybee genome may shed light on social evolution. Washington Post. Link
• Minard, Anne. Honeybee genome sheds light on "killer" history, bee secrets. National Geographic News, Oct. 25, 2006. Link
• National Science Foundation. (Oct. 30, 2006.) Newly discovered genes, Brain chemicals likely play a role in complex bee behavior. Link
• Palca, Joe. (Oct. 26, 2006). Scientists use bee genes to understand behavior. (Featuring Gene Robinson and Charles Whitfield.) National Public Radio Morning Edition. Audio Link
• Unsigned. [Later corrected ;-)]. (Oct. 25, 2006). Secrets of the honey bee revealed in genome code. Reuters. Link