Table 1. Description of genes used for transcriptional evaluation
| Gene product (abbrev.) | Biochemical properties & putative function(s) | Reference |
| Profilin (Chickadee) (PRF) | An intercellular cytoplasm transport molecule required during Drosophila oogenesis. Binds actin monomers, membrane poly-phosphoinositides and poly-L-proline. Profilin may link the cytoskeleton with major signalling pathways by interacting with components of the phosphatidylinositol cycle and Ras pathway. | (Cooley et al. 1992) |
| Flotillin-1 (FLT) | Marker for membrane microdomains (lipid "rafts"), participates in growth factor-induced regulation of the actin cytoskeleton formation. | (Haglund et al. 2004) |
| Transferrin (TRF) | Iron binding protein with multiple functions. Differentially expressed in young and foraging worker and in virgin and mature queens. | (Kucharski and Maleszka 2003) |
| Vitellogenin (VIT) | A female-specific glucolipoprotein yolk precursor produced by all oviparous animals, but other functions have also been implied (nurse bees use vitellogenin to produce royal jelly). | (Piulachs et al. 2003) |
| Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) | An enzyme responsive to oxygen related hypoxia. Synthesises nitric oxide, an important second messenger. | (Nilsson et al. 2004) |
| Arginine kinase (ArgK) | An important component of the energy releasing mechanism in tissues with high energy demands. | (Kucharski and Maleszka 1998) |
| Octopamine receptor (OCTR) | A binder of biogenic amines and neuromodulator of many physiological processes. | (Grohmann et al. 2003) |
| Take-out-like carrier protein (JHBP-1) | Take-out-like carrier protein with a juvenile hormone binding motif. Members of this family regulate embryogenesis, maintain the status quo of larva development and stimulate reproductive maturation in the adult forms. | (Kolodziejczyk et al. 2003) |
| Ribosomal protein (RpS8) | Component of ribosomes, but also multiple functions: chromosomal condensation, replication, transcription, RNA processing, DNA repair, and protein-protein interactions. | (Kucharski and Maleszka 2002) |