2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Comparative evolutionary analysis on the olfactory and other chemosensory receptor gene families using whole genome sequences
| Project/Area Number |
20770192
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Evolutionary biology
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| Research Institution | Tokyo Medical and Dental University |
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Principal Investigator |
NIIMURA Yoshihito Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 難治疾患研究所, 准教授 (90396979)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2008 – 2010
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| Keywords | 嗅覚受容体 / 化学受容 / 遺伝子ファミリー / 比較ゲノム / 分子進化 / 脊椎動物 / 霊長類 / バイオインフォマティクス |
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| Research Abstract |
Odor molecules in the environment are detected by olfactory receptors (ORs). Reflecting the diversity of odorants, vertebrate genomes harbor numerous OR genes. In this study, I have examined the relationships between degeneration of olfactory ability (decrease in the number of OR genes) and development of color vision (acquisition of trichromatic vision). As a result, contrary to the previous view, I showed that there are no direct links between them. Moreover, I investigated genome sequences from diverse organisms including amphioxus, which is a basal chordate species (relatives of vertebrates). I then revealed the origin and the early evolution of OR gene families.
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Research Products
(24 results)
