Bacillus DNA in fossil bees: an ancient symbiosis?

Authors :: Cano, Raul J.
Borucki, Monica K.
Highby-Schweitzer, Mary
Poinar, Hendrik N.
Poinar, George O., Jr.
Pollard, Kerri J.
Source :: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. June, 1994, Vol. 60 Issue 6, p2164, 4 p.
Publication Year :: 1994
Abstract: Four 16S ribosomal DNA sequences cloned from extinct stingless bee fossils (Proplebeia dominicana) are phylogenetically similar to Bacillus firmus, B. pumilus, B. circulans and B. subtilis obtained from the abdominal parts of stingless bees. The ancient DNA originates from an extinct symbiont associated with the four Bacillus species, indicating the bee-Bacillus relationship in the extinct P. dominicana species.