# AGENTS.md — Context-dependent expression of the foraging gene in field colonies of ants

**Paper**: Context-dependent expression of the foraging gene in field colonies of ants (2016)
**Area**: Entomology
**Authors**: Daniel A. Friedman, Anna Pilko, Doriane Skowronski, Krista Kerber, Noa Pinter-Wollman, Deborah M. Gordon

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## Agent Roles

### 📖 Research Agent
**Focus**: Deep analysis of Context-dependent expression of the foraging gene in field colonies of ants
**Tasks**:
- Analyze core argument: Previous work has found that workers of similar genotype adopt different behavioural phenotypes. Elegant laboratory studies have pioneered this effort...
- Evaluate: First field study of foraging gene expression in a natural ant population
- Evaluate: Demonstrates foraging gene regulation at two timescales (ontogenetic and circadian)
- Evaluate: Shows that light exposure affects foraging gene expression differently in brood workers vs foragers

### 🔬 Methods Agent
**Focus**: Methodological rigor and replication
**Tasks**:
- Assess and document: qRT-PCR gene expression quantification
- Assess and document: Field behavioral observations
- Assess and document: Experimental light exposure manipulation
- Assess and document: Temporal gene expression profiling
- Assess and document: Statistical analysis (ANOVA, t-tests)

### 📚 Citation Agent
**Focus**: Citation context and scholarly impact
**Tasks**:
- Track citations and impact of this entomology work
- Map connections to related works in the Friedman corpus
- Identify citing papers and downstream applications

### 🔗 Synthesis Agent
**Focus**: Cross-paper and cross-domain connections
**Tasks**:
- Connect themes: foraging gene, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, harvester ants, gene expression, circadian rhythms
- Link to related works in the docxology corpus
- Identify synergies across Active Inference, entomology, and cognitive security

### 💼 Consultant Agent
**Focus**: Practical application and knowledge transfer
**Tasks**:
- Evaluates practical applications and implementation strategies for this research
- Maps findings to industry challenges, Active Inference, and technological solutions
- Facilitates knowledge transfer to external teams and collaborators

## Extraction Log

- **Source PDF**: `2016_ForagingGene.pdf`
- **PDF Status**: ✅ Available
- **Documentation Quality**: Hand-curated from direct PDF analysis

## Related Papers

See [BIBLIOGRAPHY.md](../../pages/BIBLIOGRAPHY.md) for the full publication catalog.