Discovery: Bats’ Olfactory System and Vomeronasal Organ Degenerates Commonly

Sense of smell can help mammals seek for food, identify partner and escape from their enemy, which is very important for them. Our scholar used bats as a modal to do the research, for bats are one of the most specialized and diversified mammal species.

 

They chose TRPC2 to mark their genes and unveiled a truth from the genetic perspective for the first time that mammals’ vomeronasal organ degenerates on a large scale. They thought that the cause is more complex than we had ever imagined.

 

The research result has been published on the well-known journal Molecular Biology and Evolution (2009, IF=9.9). Its first author is our Dr. Zhao Huabin of School of Life Science. Its correspondence authors are our Professor Zhang Shuyi and Professor Zhang Jianzhi of Michigan University.

 

 

 

(Translated and Edited by Shui Tao. Email: tao.shui0430@gmail.com)