Final answer:
The statement is false; worker bees and the queen are not genetically identical. They share genetic material but have different roles in the hive driven by kin selection, which benefits the species' survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
The claim that in a honeybee hive, the sterile worker bees and the reproductive queen bee are genetically identical is false. While they share a considerable amount of genetic similarity because they come from the same mother, the queen bee, their roles and genetic expression differ markedly. The fertile queen and drones are responsible for reproduction, with the queen laying eggs and the drones providing the sperm. In contrast, the sterile worker bees do not reproduce but instead focus on tasks that benefit the survival of the species, such as nurturing offspring, maintaining and defending the hive, and foraging for food. This division of labor and specialized roles within honeybee colonies reflect an evolutionary strategy known as kin selection, which maintains the overall fitness of the colony through the propagation of shared genes.