ARS | Publication request: Influence of genomics in honey bee research

Submitted to: Texas Beekeepers Journal
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: January 10, 2011
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: A large number of genomic projects have already demonstrated very important achievements that will eventually provide healthier bees and therefore better pollinators. In this paper, we illustrated some of the most prominent achievements by the community of scientists that worked together on the Honey Bee Genome Project (HBGP). This project has become a very timely endeavor, especially in view of the massive colony losses (CCD) first reported the same year the HBGP was completed in 2006. The HBGP sprung myriads of scientific applications that are already helping to solve problems related to honey bee health, nutrition, development, reproduction, and social behavior. Here we focused on practical implications of bee genomics; including the most immediate impact the HBGP may have on the marker-assisted breeding programs, development of the biomarkers for nutritional and immune stressors in bees, and development tools to control bee diseases. None of these research areas could be addressed before the genomic data become available.