Ant Variation Ants of the same genotype can exhibit numerous phenotypic forms and develop multiple functional castes within a colony. Bonasio et al. (p. 1068 ) sequenced the genomes of two ant species exhibiting differences in caste development— Camponotus floridanus and Harpegnathos saltator —and used the sequences to compare gene expression and identify differences in epigenetic gene regulation that lead to the phenotypic differences. Ants may offer a model system for studying the role of epigenetics in behavior and development.

Genomic Comparison of the Ants Camponotus floridanus and Harpegnathos saltator