. "DNA methylation systems are well characterized in vertebrates, but methylation in Drosophila melanogaster and other invertebrates remains controversial. Using the recently sequenced honey bee genome, we present a bioinformatic, molecular, and biochemical characterization of a functional DNA methylation system in an insect. We report on catalytically active orthologs of the vertebrate DNA methyltransferases Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a and b, two isoforms that contain a methyl-DNA binding domain, genomic 5-methyl-deoxycytosine, and CpG-methylated genes. The honey bee provides an opportunity to study the roles of methylation in social contexts." . . "Science" . "Wang Y." . "Robertson H.M." . "Maleszka R." . "Jones P.L." . "Ling X." . "Mizzen C.A." . "Peinado M.A." . "Robinson G.E." . "Jorda M." . "2006"^^ . "645-647" . "Functional CpG methylation system in a social insect." . "314" . "doi:10.1126/science.1135213" .