Chemical Signalling

Question 1

Give examples of unspecific chemical signals.

Answer 1

Semio-chemicals and chemical cues.

Question 2

Give examples of intraspecific signals.

Answer 2

Pheromones.

Question 3

Give examples of interspecific signals.

Answer 3

Allelochemicals.

Question 4

What are kairomones?

Answer 4

Chemical substances emitted by an organism and detected by another of a different species which gains an advantage from it.

Question 5

What are allomones?

Answer 5

Chemical substances emitted by an organism and are detected by the same species. Gives an advantage to the sender.

Question 6

What are releaser pheromones?

Answer 6

Pheromones that trigger a direct behavioural response.

Question 7

What are primer pheromones?

Answer 7

Pheromones that act on the endocrine system.

Question 8

How can perception of chemical signals be recorded?

Answer 8

Electrical activity of sensory neurons can be measured by recording the action potentials generated by the sensory neurons in response to odour

Question 9

Define EC50.

Answer 9

The dose at which 50% of the maximal sensory effect is reached.

Question 10

What is the mechanism of olfaction?

Answer 10

Olfactory sensory neurons (OSN) project to olfactory bulb/vomeronasal organ (VNO) to accessory olfactory bulb. Each OSN expresses only one type of odorant receptor.