PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Adam J. Bewick
AU  - Kevin J. Vogel
AU  - Allen J. Moore
AU  - Robert J. Schmitz
TI  - Sociality and DNA methylation are not evolutionary dependent
AID  - 10.1101/062455
DP  - 2016 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 062455
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/07/06/062455.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/07/06/062455.full
AB  - Despite widespread conservation across the tree of life, little is known about how DNA methylation contributes to the evolution of complex traits. In particular, DNA methylation has been hypothesized to allow the evolution of highly flexible traits, such as sociality. We sought to better understand patterns of DNA methylation and its association between the expression of advanced social behavior across insects. DNA methylation in insects is widespread and found in social and solitary species from all orders, except Diptera (flies). Solitary species within Blattodea (cockroaches, termites) had the highest levels of DNA methylation. The presence/absence of underlying methyltransferases corroborates most patterns observed, but alternative DNA methylation pathways may exist. Furthermore, we found no evidence that supports evolutionary dependency between either advanced social behavior or division of labor and DNA methylation within insects using phylogenetically corrected comparisons. These results suggest that DNA methylation is not the driver of social behavior.