Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
06:49
Volatile Sex Pheromone Extraction and Chemoattraction Assay in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: August 9, 2024
The evolution of pheromonal communication
William T Swaney1, Eric B Keverne
1Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025, USA. wts2102@columbia.edu
Behavioural Brain Research
|November 4, 2008
Summary
Pheromonal communication evolved early in tetrapod ancestors, utilizing dual olfactory organs. Primate evolution reduced pheromone reliance, inactivating the vomeronasal system.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Rodents are primary models for pheromone research, revealing roles in behavior.
- Pheromonal communication extends beyond rodents, with amphibians offering evolutionary insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary origins of chemosensory systems mediating pheromonal effects.
- To investigate the roles of the main olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ in pheromone detection across species.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of olfactory organ evolution in tetrapods.
- Examination of vomeronasal and olfactory receptor gene diversity and inactivation across species.
- Review of primate sensory evolution and social complexity impacts on pheromone use.
Main Results:
- Dual olfactory organs (main olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ) have ancient origins predating land transition.
- Both olfactory systems detect pheromones, with evidence suggesting co-option for different signals.
- Significant gene diversity and inactivation in olfactory receptor families observed across species.
- Primate evolution, including trichromacy and social complexity, minimized pheromone roles, leading to vomeronasal system inactivation in catarrhines.
Conclusions:
- The chemosensory systems for pheromonal communication are ancient and have diversified significantly.
- While the vomeronasal organ is not the sole pheromone detector, its role has diminished in primates due to evolutionary changes.
Related Concept Videos
01:03Communication
Communication between two animals occurs when one animal transmits an information signal that causes a change in the animal that receives the information. Organisms communicate with one another in a host of different ways. Signals can be auditory, chemical, visual, tactile, or a combination of these. Communication is a critical behavioral adaptation that promotes survival, growth, and reproduction.
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
The olfactory...
01:08Chemical Signaling in the Endocrine System
A signaling cascade is a series of events that facilitates the transmission of information within or between cells, culminating in a targeted response in the recipient cell. As chemical messengers, hormones are pivotal in initiating and modulating these intricate signaling cascades based on their solubility.
Lipid-soluble hormones, such as steroid hormones, demonstrate an intracellular action. These hormones traverse cell membranes due to their lipid nature. Once inside the target cell, they...
Lipid-soluble hormones, such as steroid hormones, demonstrate an intracellular action. These hormones traverse cell membranes due to their lipid nature. Once inside the target cell, they...
01:20Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
01:28Yeast Signaling
Yeasts are single-celled organisms, but unlike bacteria, they are eukaryotes (cells with a nucleus). Cell signaling in yeast is similar to signaling in other eukaryotic cells. A ligand, such as a protein or a small molecule released from a yeast cell, attaches to a receptor on the cell surface. The binding stimulates second-messenger kinases to activate or inactivate transcription factors that further regulate gene expression. Many of the yeast intracellular signaling cascades have similar...