One of the fundamental questions in behavioral biology is how the molecular composition of genetics, genomics, and epigenetic modulate social behavior. Aggression is a distinct behavior in honey bee models with attacking intruders and stinging. Are epigenetic mechanisms involved in the process of modulating aggression? The overall hypothesis of this application is that behavioral phenotypes of animals aris by evolutionary adaptation involving epigenetic mechanisms. The main goal of this project is to determine if RNA methylation (m6A) and epigenomic architecture connect the aggressive behavior of honeybees to their sociogenome. Epigenetics may be linked to distinct behavioral states and be useful in studying behavioral plasticity.
Dr. Hongmei Li-Byarlay (PI at Central State University)
Students:
E. Lee (Research Graduate Assistant, May 2020 - Feb. 2022 )
Y. O Al-Halawat (Undergraduate Researcher, Aug. - Dec. 2020)
X. Cleare (Undergraduate Researcher, Aug. - Dec. 2020, Jan. - May 2021)
R. Swami (Undergraduate Researcher, Aug. 2019 - May 2020)
D. Latham (Undergraduate Researcher, 2018 summer)
Research Assistant:
A. Messerly (Purdue University) (2021 summer)
G. Bradley (High School senior student) (2019 summer)
Ashley Cordle (Dec 2020 - )
2023 - Publication of this research project - Examining parent-of-origin effects on transcription and RNA methylation in mediating aggressive behavior in honey bees (Apis mellifera), ST Bresnahan, E Lee, L Clark, R Ma, J Rangel, CM Grozinger, H Li-Byarlay, BMC genomics 24 (1), 1-13.
Sep 2021 -- Field experiments performed at Penn State U, second batch of sequencing data is generated, in the middle of our data analysis
May 2021 -- First batch of sequencing data generated, 2nd batch of samples are being sequenced.
Dec. 2020 -- First batch of RNA samples are being sequenced!
Mar. 2020 -- We submitted the NSF report about our first-year research progress, research activities, outcome, and impact to the society.
Mar. 2020 -- Our online mtg with our collaborator on the field plan of 2020 was a success!
Feb. 2020 -- PI presented our current findings at the 2020 HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Dec. 2019 -- plan for our field season
Nov. 2019 -- Initiated our website page. PI presented our research at the ESA 2019 annual mtg at St. Louis.
Sep. 2019 -- The kickoff meeting was held. PI and Co-PI discussed the progress of our project.
Jun. 2019 -- We plan to work on the administration logistics with our collaborator for the field collection.
May 2019 -- Two major pieces of equipment (a nanodrop spectrophotometer and a gel doc) were purchased.