The Genetic Basis of Rescue Behavior in Tetramorium caespitum
| dc.contributor.author | Lee, Miranda | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-04-22T13:28:11Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-04-22T13:28:11Z | |
| dc.date.created | 2017-10-20 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019-04-22 | |
| dc.description.abstract | A defining characteristic of eusocial insect species is division of labor. Castes as well as task specialization are genetically influenced in many eusocial species, though environmental cues and other factors also play a role. One intriguing task specialization that may function to enhance the survival of the colony is rescue behavior, where individual ants place themselves at risk in the process of aiding a trapped nestmate. The common pavement ant Tetramorium caespitum exhibits this behavior; however, the mechanism underlying this task specialization is not known. The present project aims to test two hypotheses: first, that rescue behavior is genetically influenced in T. caespitum. Other common tasks are genetically influenced, such as foraging, so it is possible that rescue behavior is similarly genetically coded. Second, we hypothesize that T. caespitum are more likely to rescue individuals to which they are more closely related. Behavioral assays were conducted to quantify rescue behavior and individuals showed different propensities to rescue victims. Genetic analyses were used to determine relatedness between individuals and infer paternity. If the hypotheses are true, we expect that the propensity to engage in rescue behavior will be correlated with genetic relatedness and that rescuers are more closely related to victims than non-rescuers in the same behavioral trials. | |
| dc.description.panabstract | Learning does not end with academia, and the world of science is so much larger than the classroom. This summer we pushed the boundaries of the research we were familiar with and learned how it can have practical applications. Chemistry helps us develop drug delivery methods and improves industrial agriculture. Biology allows us to understand disease and design new medications. Our internships helped us understand what we love about science and what we want to focus on in the future. Some of us realized our love for pure academic research, and want to pursue graduate school immediately. Some of us want to go into the industry and continue applying our knowledge. Regardless, our internships honed our scientific interests and increased our confidence. We are not the same people we were at the start of the summer. We’ve come far, and we aren’t stopping here. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10166/5640 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.rights.restricted | public | |
| dc.title | The Genetic Basis of Rescue Behavior in Tetramorium caespitum | |
| dc.title.alternative | To Our Internships and Beyond: Our Futures in Biology and Chemistry |
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