Which caste in A. gracilipes incorporates stored paternal genes in a specialized manner?
Answer
New queens
The reproductive differentiation in *A. gracilipes* is achieved through a sophisticated split in how the queen's stored sperm is utilized. While the female workers, which constitute the majority of the colony, develop primarily from the queen’s own genetic material, the new queens destined to found subsequent colonies are generated through a process that specifically incorporates the stored paternal genes in a specialized way. This differential genetic loading ensures that the reproductive caste possesses the variation needed for long-term fitness in novel environments.
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