Essay Preview: Bees
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October 26, 2006 Ð- CNN.com Ð- See attached article
Event: There is much more to bees than honey
Synopsis: Scientists have been working on genetic codes of honey bees, revealing information about their complex social behavior, sense of smell, and their African origins. The honey bee now joins the mosquito and fruit fly as insects that have had their genomes studied.
Discussion: Scientists studying honey bees can help out in many different areas. These can include allergenic disease, development, gerontology, neuroscience, social behavior and venom toxicology. These areas are being studied by Gene Robinson, director of the University of Illinois Bee Research Facility. He also added that the honey bee project could benefit research for agriculture, biological research, and human health. I believe that the allergic disease research is very important because not only do I suffer from extremely bad allergies but it is something that most humans have to deal with annually. Agricultural research is also very important because many parts of the United States are completely run by agriculture. By studying the worker bees there can also be information concluded about social behavior between bees. Also despite bees having small brains, honey bees actually show some cognitive abilities that include associating a flowers color, shape, and scent. The honey bee possesses more scent genes than taste making it easier to find different flowers. Although the honey bee has many scent genes they still fall below the fruit fly and mosquito for immunity genes. Scientists have also analyzed honey bees genetic codes to discover that they originated in Africa and eventually spread to Europe; because of this migration it makes the honey bee an impressive example of biological