Olfactory bulbs of baleen whales and the evolution of the sense of smell in whales

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24770075
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: KISHIDA Takushi 京都大学, 野生動物研究センター, 助教 (40527892)
• Research Collaborator: THEWISSEN J. G. M. Hans
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 鯨類 / 海洋環境適応進化 / ゲノム / 組織化学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Based on the histological analyses, it was revealed that there are no glomeruli distributed at the dorsal side of the olfactory bulbs of bowhead whales (Mysticeti). We sequenced and assembled the whole genome sequences of a baleen whale (Antarctic minke whale) and confirmed that baleen whales have no genes that are expressed specifically at the dorsal domain of the olfactory bulbs. Based on the behavior of the dorsal domain-ablated transgenic mice, it was previously reported that the dorsal domain induces innate avoidance behavior against odors of predators and spoiled foods. It is speculated that whales have lost such innate avoidance behavior during their migration from land to water.

Free Research Field

進化生物学