Evolution of Olfactory Receptor Genes in Mammals
Author Information
Author(s): Niimura Yoshihito, Nei Masatoshi
Primary Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Pennsylvania State University
Hypothesis
How have olfactory receptor (OR) genes evolved in different mammalian species?
Conclusion
The study found extensive gains and losses of olfactory receptor genes in mammals, influenced by evolutionary adaptations to different environments.
Supporting Evidence
- Platypuses and primates have fewer than 400 functional OR genes, while other species have 800-1,200.
- Hundreds of gains and losses of OR genes occurred in an order-specific manner.
- The number of OR genes is primarily determined by the functional requirements of each species.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many smell genes different mammals have and found that some have a lot while others have very few, depending on their needs.
Methodology
The researchers identified and analyzed the olfactory receptor genes from the genomes of eight mammalian species.
Limitations
The estimates of functional OR genes may be inaccurate due to the use of draft genome sequences, which can be incomplete.
Participant Demographics
The study included genomes from platypuses, opossums, cows, dogs, rats, macaques, humans, and mice.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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