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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice

Published on: June 15, 2015

Olfactory evolution: mice rethink stink.

Marcus Stensmyr¹, Florian Maderspacher

¹Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. mstensmyr@ice.mpg.de

Current Biology : CB

|January 26, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Animals communicate using chemical signals, but their origins are unclear. This study reveals how a metabolic byproduct evolved into a significant communication signal, shedding light on chemical communication evolution.

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Area of Science:

Chemical ecology
Evolutionary biology
Animal behavior

Background:

Animals utilize diverse chemical signals for communication.
The evolutionary pathways and origins of these signals remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the origin of a specific animal communication signal.
To trace the evolutionary trajectory of a signal's behavioral significance.

Main Methods:

Analysis of metabolic pathways to identify potential signaling molecules.
Behavioral assays to assess the functional role of the identified signal.
Phylogenetic analysis to understand the evolution of signal usage.

Main Results:

A metabolic byproduct was identified as the source of a communication signal.
The signal's behavioral significance was shown to have evolved over time.
Evidence suggests a co-evolutionary process between the signal and its perception.

Conclusions:

Metabolic processes can be a source of novel communication signals.
The evolution of signal function is a dynamic process.
Understanding signal origins provides insights into the evolution of animal communication.