10/09/07 Honey Bees Genes

Honeybees genes. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Efforts by scientists to sequence the honeybee genome are paying off, as researchers are learning more about how the honeybee`s genes protect it against disease and control its behavior, among other traits. Jay Evans, an entomologist at the ARS Bee Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., has been working on the project. EVANS: We're interested in the agricultural side of it and how to use the genome essentially in the same way the human genome is being used for humane medicine. We're looking at disease related genes in honeybees and getting markers for breeding programs. Sequencing the honeybee genome gives researchers an invaluable tool for better understanding this essential pollinator of many of the world`s important crops. EVANS: The bee industry really relies on chemical help, antibiotics and chemicals to help them with this parasitic mite. The hope is to move away from those and have bees that are naturally resistant to all of these diseases. While there are many different species Evans says they are working with only one at present. EVANS: The commercial honeybee is just one species and that same species whether you are in Europe, Asia or Australia or here. Worldwide there are 20,000 bee species many of which are involved with pollination but none of which are at the same scale for agricultural pollination. Tomorrow we'll look at how the research actually works. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.