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New research has found common honey bees possess highly sophisticated brains and share up to 30 per cent of the same genes as humans. A group of 17 scientists at the University of Queensland (UQ) have uncovered the findings while studying the tiny bee brain which is the size of a sesame seed. The group has found that bees have many of the same
brain-functioning genes as humans and, like humans, have an amazing capacity to learn and remember information.

Charles has found the same molecules that cause autism in humans are also involved with memory formation in bees. The scientists at UQ are also studying how bees behave, fly, navigate, see and smell and are coming across new findings on bees’ astute sense of smell and vision. Charles said the scientists, who study hundreds of thousands of bees, will begin to research the biochemical make-up of bees to determine if insects like bees have emotions.

Original Source: http://editorial.australiangeographic.com.au/newsandviews/index_news.aspx?ID=60