Editing Red imported fire ant (section)

===Genetics===
Studies show that [[mitochondrial DNA]] variation occurs substantially in [[Gyne|polygyne]] societies (nests with multiple queens),{{sfn|Taber|2000|p=43}} but no variation is detected in [[Gyne|monogyne]] societies (nests with a single queen).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ross |first1=K.G. |last2= Shoemaker |first2=D.D. |title= Nuclear and mitochondrial genetic structure in two social forms of the fire ant ''Solenopsis invicta'': insights into transitions to an alternate social organization |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_heredity_1997-06_78_6/page/590 |journal= Heredity |date=1997 |volume=78 |issue=6 |pages= 590–602 |doi= 10.1038/hdy.1997.98|s2cid=19225329 |doi-access=free |bibcode=1997Hered..78..590R }}</ref> [[Triploid syndrome|Triploidy]] (a chromosomal abnormality) occurs in red imported fire ants at high rates (as high as 12% in non-reproductive females), which is linked to the high frequency of diploid males.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Krieger|first1=M.J.B.|last2=Ross|first2=K.G.|last3=Chang|first3=C..W.Y.|last4=Keller|first4=L.|title=Frequency and origin of triploidy in the fire ant ''Solenopsis invicta'' |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_heredity_1999-02_82_2/page/142|journal= Heredity |date=1999 |volume=82 |issue=2 |pages=142–150 |doi= 10.1038/sj.hdy.6884600|s2cid=13144037|doi-access=free|bibcode=1999Hered..82..142K }}</ref> The red imported fire ant is the first species shown to possess a [[green-beard effect|green-beard gene]], by which natural selection can favour [[Altruism (biology)|altruistic behaviour]]. Workers containing this gene are able to distinguish between queens containing it, and those that do not, apparently by using odour cues. The workers kill queens that do not contain the gene.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Keller |first1=L. |last2=Ross |first2=K.G. |title=Selfish genes: a green beard in the red fire ant |journal=Nature |date=1998 |volume=394 |issue=6693 |pages=573–575 |bibcode=1998Natur.394..573K |doi=10.1038/29064 |s2cid=4310467 |url=http://bio.classes.ucsc.edu/bioe200b/pdf%20files/AntGreenbeard.pdf |access-date=26 February 2011 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720074946/http://bio.classes.ucsc.edu/bioe200b/pdf%20files/AntGreenbeard.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grafen |first1=A. |title= Evolutionary biology: Green beard as death warrant |journal= Nature |volume=394 |issue=6693 |pages=521–522|date=1998|url=http://users.ox.ac.uk/~grafen/cv/grbeard.pdf|doi=10.1038/28948|bibcode=1998Natur.394..521G|s2cid=28124873 }}</ref> In 2011, scientists announced they had [[Whole genome sequencing|fully sequenced]] the red imported fire ant [[genome]] from a male.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wurm |first1=Y. |last2=Wang |first2=J. |last3=Riba-Grognuz |first3=O. |last4=Corona |first4=M. |last5=Nygaard |first5=S. |last6=Hunt |first6=B.G. |last7=Ingram |first7=K.K. |last8=Falquet |first8=L. |last9=Nipitwattanaphon |first9=M. |last10=Gotzek |first10=D. |last11=Dijkstra |first11=M.B. |last12=Oettler |first12=J. |last13=Comtesse |first13=F. |last14=Shih |first14=C.-J. |last15=Wu |first15=W.-J. |last16=Yang |first16=C.-C. |last17=Thomas |first17=J. |last18=Beaudoing |first18=E. |last19=Pradervand |first19=S. |last20=Flegel |first20=V. |last21=Cook |first21=E.D. |last22=Fabbretti |first22=R. |last23=Stockinger |first23=H. |last24=Long |first24=L. |last25=Farmerie |first25=W.G. |last26=Oakey |first26=J. |last27=Boomsma |first27=J.J. |last28=Pamilo |first28=P. |last29=Yi |first29=S.V. |last30=Heinze |first30=J. |last31=Goodisman |first31=M. A.D. |last32=Farinelli |first32=L. |last33=Harshman |first33=K. |last34=Hulo |first34=N. |last35=Cerutti |first35=L. |last36=Xenarios |first36=I. |last37=Shoemaker |first37=D. |last38=Keller |first38=L. |title=The genome of the fire ant ''Solenopsis invicta'' |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=2011 |volume=108 |issue=14 |pages=5679–5684 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1009690108 |pmid=21282665 |pmc=3078418 |bibcode=2011PNAS..108.5679W |doi-access=free }}</ref>