Genetic Introgression & Loss of Local Adaptation in Honeybees - Associate Professor Jon Ellis

Описание: Genetic Introgression & Loss of Local Adaptation in Honeybees | Talk by Dr. Jonathan Ellis

Join Dr. Jonathan Ellis from the University of Plymouth as he explores genetic introgression and its impact on locally adapted honeybee populations. With a background in bumblebee conservation genetics, Dr. Ellis has worked on a range of species, including fish and fungi, before turning his focus to honeybee genetics.

🔬 Key Topics Covered:
🧬 What is genetic introgression? – How foreign genetic material mixes into local honeybee populations.
📉 Why does introgression matter? – The risk of losing traits that make native bees well-adapted to their environment.
🧪 How do scientists measure introgression? – Using mitochondrial DNA, nuclear markers, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
📈 The effects of admixture on local adaptation – How hybridization can break down naturally evolved traits.
🌍 What can we learn from conservation biology? – Examples from other species, including ibex and even human Neanderthal ancestry.
⚖️ Balancing genetic diversity with conservation – Can natural selection maintain locally adapted bees despite high rates of imports?

Dr. Ellis explains the genetic methods used to study admixture in honeybee populations, raising important questions about the level of genetic mixing that disrupts local adaptation. With evidence suggesting that native bees outperform imported bees, this talk highlights the importance of preserving locally adapted honeybee populations.

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🐝 Let’s protect the genetic integrity of our native bees!

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