In a major breakthrough for conservation efforts, scientists have mapped the genome of the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis). This species, native to North America, has been listed as endangered since 2017 and is facing a major decline in its population. Researchers hope that this new genomic information will help them gain a better understanding of the bee’s biology and inform future conservation strategies. This is the first time that the genome of a bumble bee species has been sequenced, and it provides a valuable resource for researchers to study how this species is evolving in response to environmental pressures.

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org