Article
Evolution of Social Insect Polyphenism Facilitated by the Sex Differentiation Cascade.
PLoS genetics - 1 Mar 2016
Klein Antonia, Schultner Eva, Lowak Helena, Schrader Lukas, Heinze Jürgen, Holman Luke, Oettler Jan
Abstract excerpt
The major transition to eusociality required the evolution of a switch to canalize development into either a reproductive or a helper, the nature of which is currently unknown. Following predictions from the 'theory of facilitated variation', we identify sex differentiation pathways as promising candidates because of their pre-adaptation to regulating development of complex phenotypes. We show that conserved core...
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