How Can Bees Tell Friend From Foe? All Things Considered, NPR Science column: The secret life of bee bacteria; All in a Day with Alan Neal, CBC Radio, Canada Bee microbiome smells tell nestmates apart; Eva Higginbotham, The Naked Scientist Gut Feeling: Research Reveals How Honeybees Identify Outsiders; Environmental News Network Honey bees tell friend […]
Category: Lab Announcements
New publication: The gut microbiome defines group membership in honey bee colonies
Former graduate student Cassie Vernier published her study on the role of the gut microbiome in regulating nestmate recognition in honey bees. Study suggests that microbial genetics play a role in determining hive membership via modulation of host bee pheromones. Vernier CL, Chin I, Adu-Oppong B, Krupp J, Levine J, Dantas G and Ben-Shahar Y […]
In the news: The secret life of bee bacteria
CBC Listen Science column: The secret life of bee bacteria | All in a Day with Alan Neal | Live Radio | CBC Listen A new study published this week in Science Advances has shown the very unique way that honey bees can tell who is a member of their hive and who may be […]
New Publication: Brain microRNAs among social and solitary bees
Yehuda publishes a new study that describes the brain miRNA transcriptome of diverse bee species with varying levels of sociality. Study was led by Dr. Karen Kapheim from Utah State University, and former postdoctoral fellow Eirik Søvik, now at Volda University in Norway. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.200517
Dr. Nicole Leitner receives a postdoctoral fellowship
Postdoctoral fellow Dr. Nicole Leitner receives a one-year postdoctoral fellowship from the McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology.
New Publication: The neurogenetics of sexually dimorphic behaviors from a post-developmental perspective
Nicole and Yehuda publish a new review article about the role of post-developmental molecular processes in regulating male vs. female behavior in a special issue of Genes, Brain, and Behavior. Leitner N and Ben-Shahar Y (2020) The neurogenetics of sexually dimorphic behaviors from a post-developmental perspective. Genes Brain and Behavior 19:e12623 (invited review)
New Publication: The Drosophila ERG channel seizure plays a role in the neuronal homeostatic stress response
Alexis’s paper, “The Drosophila ERG channel seizure plays a role in the neuronal homeostatic stress response”, has been published in PLOS Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008288
Cassie Vernier defends her PhD thesis
PhD student Cassie Vernier successfully defended her thesis. Congratulations Dr. Vernier!
Lab announcement: Chin wins Quatrano Prize
Chin’s research identifying the genetic networks that regulate complex social decision-making behaviors in insects stood out among this year’s nominees, evaluators said, in part because it yielded unexpected results. Her thesis was titled “The contribution of Williams Syndrome-related genes to Drosophila social behaviors uncovers an evolutionarily conserved genetic toolkit underlying animal sociality.” -by Talia Ogliore, full […]
Ross McKinney defends his PhD thesis
PhD student Ross McKinney successfully defended his thesis. Congratulations Dr. McKinney!
Ben-Shahar Lab receives NSF grant
Yehuda Ben-Shahar has been awarded $770,000 by the National Science Foundation to investigate how insects produce and perceive mating pheromones as species diversify.
Zhen Peng defends his PhD thesis
PhD student Zhen Peng successfully defended his thesis. Congratulations Dr. Peng!