An Ancient and Eroded Social Supergene Is Widespread across Formica Ants (Current Biology)

Brelsford et al. show that a supergene underlying social structure in the Alpine silver ant (Formica selysi) is polymorphic and associated with sociality in 14 other Formica species. Across species, small supergene regions harbor consistent genetic polymorphisms, suggesting an ancient origin with ongoing rare recombination.