Self-indulgent royals risk causing worker rebellion...

[Newbunkle]

BBC Link

Antagonism rife in the ant world

Ants are renowned for their ability to work together, and put the good of the community ahead of personal concerns.

But new research suggests that their colonies are actually hotbeds of devious, selfish and corrupt behaviour.

And it is the royal family - or male ants carrying a so-called "royal" gene - that are largely to blame.

Scientists have discovered that some males pass the gene on selectively, to ensure that their offspring become reproductive queens, not mere workers.

The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used DNA fingerprinting on five colonies of leaf-cutting ants.

This revealed that a larvae's chances of becoming queen depended largely on who its father was.

Previously scientists were adamant that the species was a model of democracy and social co-operation.

It had been thought that nurture was the driving force in selecting royalty - some larvae were fed certain foods to prompt their development into queens.

But now it seems those who have been passed the royal gene have an unfair advantage over the rest.

Dr Bill Hughes, from the University of Leeds, who led the research, said: "The core principle of social societies is they should be egalitarian. We've found this isn't always the case, and that some of the males are cheating. There is a genetic influence on royalty."

The royal genetic lines are rare in each colony, leading the scientists to think that the ants cunningly spread their sperm around different colonies, so that the unfair advantage to their offspring is not spotted.

If too many larvae became queens, the imbalance could be noticed by the "commoner" worker ants, who might then turn on their leaders.

"When studying social insects like ants and bees," said Dr Hughes, "it's often the co-operative aspect of their society that first stands out."

"However, when you look more deeply, you can see there is conflict and cheating - and obviously human society is also a prime example of this. It was thought ants were an exception, but our genetic analysis has shown that their society is also rife with corruption - and it's royal corruption at that."

Well, I had no idea that ants can be republicans...

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Do words like "should" and "unfair" really have any place here?

 

[Newbunkle]

I just noticed this quote on the page that I didn't copy across:

"The rarity of the royal lines is actually an evolutionary strategy by the cheats, to escape suppression by the altruistic masses that they exploit"
- Dr Bill Hughes, Leeds University​

 

[skadistic]

Ants rock.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Well they do say ants have the closest social structure to humans...

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well they do say ants have the closest social structure to humans...

They do

 

[Integral]

They do

For certain values of "they".

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

They do

There was an article in National Geographic a few months ago, and the researchers said that ants have the most similar social structure to humans of all known animals.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Previously scientists were adamant that the species was a model of democracy Communision and social co-operation.

LOLs .

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

There was an article in National Geographic a few months ago, and the researchers said that ants have the most similar social structure to humans of all known animals.

Hmm . . . well, a higher percentage of us reproduce.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

Hey, I never said they were our cousins or anything...

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Workers of the hive, unite!

 

[Leonel]

BBC Link



Well, I had no idea that ants can be republicans...

Yup, typical Republican's not doing anything when a big wig Democrat takes away their stuff.

 

[Tee Kay]

Well they do say ants have the closest social structure to humans...

their colonies are actually hotbeds of devious, selfish and corrupt behaviour.

Yeah that sounds about right.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

BBC Link



Well, I had no idea that ants can be republicans...

The proletariat worker ants should revolt and get rid of their oppresive elitist aristrocratic bourgoisie royal family and genes and establish a classless society.

 

[LesCanadiens]

The proletariat worker ants should revolt and get rid of their oppresive elitist aristrocratic bourgoisie royal family and genes and establish a classless society.

No, the free market should decide which ants are allowed to reproduce. Clearly the worker ants are best suited to to the labour because the free ant market has chosen them for it.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

No, the free market should decide which ants are allowed to reproduce. Clearly the worker ants are best suited to to the labour because the free ant market has chosen them for it.

Genetic capitalism has had many great achievements. Arthropod communism will have to overcome those achievements.

 

[silver 2039]

Hah thats awesome.

 

[Newbunkle]

Yup, typical Republican's not doing anything when a big wig Democrat takes away their stuff.

Well, I meant republican as opposed to monarchist. I had no idea they can turn on their leadership...