Queen’s Genes Determine Sex Of Entire Ant Colonies

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In humans, male and female sex chromosomes both contribute to the biological sex of their children. Meanwhile, studies reveal that the sex of some species in the animal kingdom, such as ants, can be determined by only one parent’s genes. The author explains that unlike male ants, queen ants carry two copies of the relevant genomes, which they can pass on to their offspring, making them entirely male or female. Aside from genes, the author also mentions that the availability of food can possibly influence the sex of ant colonies. Read full article here

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