Abstract: Genes have always been central to our understanding of social behaviour. This is evident from the gene-centric Theory of Kin Selection that describes social evolution, and from the widespread use of figurative terms like 'genes for altruism' and 'genes for selfishness'. Despite this understanding, however, very few empirical studies look directly at the molecular underpinnings of social breeding systems, and even fewer attempt to isolate genes that are directly involved in the expression of social phenotypes.

 

Using examples from termites and honey bees, two highly social insect taxa, I highlight some recent advances in our understanding of the evolutionary genetics of social life. Examples include the use of molecular markers to infer the hidden breeding structure of social populations, the use of molecular phylogenies to reconstruct the ancestry of social lineages, and the use of gene-expression techniques to help identify specific genes that regulate the expression of key social traits.