Gene flow and selection balance in haplodiploid social insects

Parker, J.D. and Hedrick, P.W. (2000) Gene flow and selection balance in haplodiploid social insects. Heredity, 85 (6), 530-538. (doi:10.1046/j.1365-2540.2000.00778.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Understanding the joint effects of gene flow and selection is one of the more important but difficult areas of evolutionary genetics. A
method is presented to describe cases of gene flow-selection balance
while accounting for the life history of haplodiploid social insects
(eusocial Hymenoptera). A continent-island model is used to estimate
gene flow rates from allele frequency data and provide variance
formulae. The occurrence of unequal yet stable allele frequencies among
social insect castes is explained and the usefulness of models with
discrete generations for eusocial insects is explained. Gene flow and
selection balance has been demonstrated for the file ant Solenopsis
invicta at two allozyme loci. This continent-island model gives results
that well describe the system. Issues fundamental to the differences
between X-linked and haplodiploid genetic systems and diploid genetic
systems are also discussed.

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