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Scientists uncovered the nutrients bees were missing — Colonies surged 15-fold (www.sciencedaily.com)
submitted 5 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Using CRISPR-Cas9, scientists engineered a yeast to produce the nutrient feed. Farmers could have it in two years.

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[–] 20 points 5 months ago (1 child)

Does it work for all bee species or only the honeybee species we usually use for producing honey? Wild populations are getting fucked and, last I checked, outcompeted by invasive honeybees we keep introducing to new areas for increased honey production...

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  • [–] [S] 9 points 5 months ago* (1 child)

    The article suggests that if the farmed honey bees get this engineered food, that would leave more wild forrage for native bees.

    I suspect native bees would also benefit from eating it too.

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  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago

    Being married to a pollinator ecologist has taught me at least one thing: honeybees are overrated. Native bees are waaay cooler.

    I'm glad the article said something about the impact to native bee populations, and I expect the same, but it would've been much nicer if the paper said something about them. For now we're stuck with speculation...

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