Endogamy impairs ant immunity

2010/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

Just as humans have billions of immune cells to protect us from disease, the ant groups of the same colony cover their nest with an antibacterial resin to prevent pathogens. Recent researchers at Regensburg University in Germany have first discovered that ant colonies are able to detect and discard contaminated larvae to prevent the spread of a disease. But endogamy makes this sense difficult, since endogamic ants cannot smell the pathogen.

Like endogamic humans and healthy pets, endogamic ant groups have weaker immune systems: they are slow to detect the disease and rule out contaminated larvae, endangering the entire population.