Male yellow crazy ants are real-life chimeras

The yellow crazy ant, or Anoplolepis gracilipes, has the infamous distinction of being among the worst invasive species in the world. However, this is not the reason for which this particular ant is studied by a team of international researchers. What interests them is how the insects reproduce, because males of this ant have long perplexed scientists. “The results of previous genetic analyses of the yellow crazy ant have shown that the males of this species have two copies of each chromosome. This was highly unexpected, as males usually develop from unfertilized eggs in ants, bees, and wasps – and thus should only have one maternal copy of each chromosome,” explained Dr. Hugo Darras, Assistant Professor at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and lead author of the corresponding article recently published in Science. “With this in view, we decided to investigate this puzzling phenomenon with subsequent experiments.”

Two genomes in different cell clusters

The results were quite extraordinary. It had been assumed to date that the males of the yellow crazy ant carried the same two sets of chromosomes in all cells of their body. However, the team was able to demonstrate that this premise was anything but correct. “We discovered that the male ants have maternal and paternal genomes in different cells of their body and are thus chimeras. To put it another way, all males have two genomes, but each cell of their bodies contains only one or the other of the two genomes,” summarized Darras. Normally, in a multicellular life form – be this a human, a dog, or a bat – all cells contain identical genetic material.

The research team concludes that male yellow crazy ants are chimeras: they develop from fertilized eggs in which the two parental gametes do not actually fuse. Instead, the maternal and paternal nuclei divide separately within the same egg, meaning that the resultant adult males have both parental DNA sequences but in different body cells. When the gametes do fuse, either a queen or a worker develops from the egg, depending on the genetic information carried by the sperm. It is yet unknown what mechanisms determine whether fusion of the parental gametes takes place or not.

Chimerism and the yellow crazy ant: A mode of reproduction previously unknown to science

Chimeras are individuals whose cells contain different genetic materials. They naturally occur in certain species, such as corals and angler fish, in which separate individuals can merge to become one. Chimerism can also be found in humans and other placenta mammals. During gestation, mother and fetus can exchange a small number of cells so the offspring usually has a few cells that contain the same genetic material as the mother. Such small-scale exchanges also occur between twins in the womb. “In contrast to these known cases, chimerism in the yellow crazy ant does not result from the fusion of two separate individuals or an exchange of cells between them. Instead, this process has its origin within a single fertilized egg. This is unique,” concluded Darras. Hence, the development of the male yellow crazy ant appears to contravene one of the fundamental laws of biological inheritance in which all cells of an individual should contain the same genome.

Related links:

• https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb10-evolutionary-biology/research-groups/group-darras/ – Darras group at the JGU Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution
• https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb10-evolutionary-biology/ – Behavioral Ecology and Social Evolution group at the JGU Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution
   

Read more:

• https://press.uni-mainz.de/conflict-of-interest-resolved-wax-on-the-body-surface-of-ants-can-simultaneously-optimize-two-essential-requirements/ – press release “Conflict of interest resolved: Wax on the body surface of ants can simultaneously optimize two essential requirements” (5 Sept. 2022)
• https://press.uni-mainz.de/the-advantage-of-genetic-diversity-more-diverse-ant-colonies-raise-more-offspring/ – press release “The advantage of genetic diversity: More diverse ant colonies raise more offspring” (28 Sept. 2021)
• https://press.uni-mainz.de/parasites-as-fountains-of-youth-study-finds-infected-ants-live-much-longer/ – press release “Parasites as fountains of youth: Study finds infected ants live much longer” (27 May 2021)
• https://press.uni-mainz.de/ant-responses-to-social-isolation-resemble-those-of-humans/ – press release “Ant responses to social isolation resemble those of humans” (7 Apr. 2021)
• https://press.uni-mainz.de/communication-and-waterproofing-melting-properties-determine-the-biological-functions-of-the-cuticular-hydrocarbon-layer-of-ants/ – press release “Communication and waterproofing: Melting properties determine the biological functions of the cuticular hydrocarbon layer of ants” (26 Feb. 2020)