'your inner fish' neil shubin chpts. 8-11

Olfactory receptor (OR) proteins

Proteins found in sensory neurons in the nose that detect specific odor molecules.

Pseudogenes

Nonfunctional olfactory receptor genes in humans that no longer produce working proteins.

Jacobson’s organ (VNO)

An organ in amphibians and reptiles that detects pheromones and is used for chemical communication.

Photoreceptor cells

Cells in the retina that detect light, comprising rods for low light and cones for color.

Pax6 gene

A master gene responsible for eye development across different species.

Dichromatic vision

The ability to see in two colors, characteristic of most mammals.

Trichromatic vision

The ability to see in three colors (red, green, and blue), evolved in primates.

Ossicles

Three tiny bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, stapes) that transmit sound vibrations.

Lateral line system

A system fish use to detect vibrations in water, lacking eardrums or middle ear bones.

Therapsids

Mammal-like reptiles that show intermediate stages in the evolution of jawbones to ear bones.

Tiktaalik

A fossil with a skull structure indicating early forms of sound detection on land.

Evolutionary constraints

Limitations or adaptations in biological traits brought about by evolutionary pressures.

Color vision evolution

The development of the ability to perceive different colors due to evolutionary adaptations.

Blind spot

An area in the retina where no photoreceptors are present, causing a lack of vision.

Ear fossil evidence

Fossils that demonstrate the transition of jawbones into ear bones in mammals.

Evolutionary significance of smell

The historical loss of reliance on smell in humans, reflected in our olfactory genes.

Acute sense of smell

A highly developed ability to detect odors, seen in animals like dogs.

Communication pheromones

Chemical signals used by animals, detected by organs like Jacobson’s organ.

Camera-like eyes

Eyes evolved independently in mollusks, functioning similarly to vertebrate eyes.

Human evolutionary flaws

Physical imperfections in human anatomy that arose from evolutionary development.

Bipedalism stress

Physical strain resulting from walking on two legs, affecting human skeletal structure.

Evolutionary history

The biological legacy that shapes current organisms based on ancestral traits.

Cochlea

A fluid-filled structure in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into nerve signals.

Sound wave detection

The process by which ears detect and interpret vibrations in the environment.

Evolutionary adaptations

Changes in species traits that enhance survival and reproduction in changing environments.

Embryonic development

The early stage of development where structures may not yet serve their final function.

Natural selection

The process by which traits that improve survival and reproduction become more common in a population.

Genetic remnants

Genetic material passed down that reflects evolutionary history and ancestral functions.

Neurons

Cells in the body that transmit sensory information, including smell and sound.

Environmental pressures

Factors in an organism's environment that influence evolution and adaptation.

Unique mammalian ear structure

The specific arrangement of three bones in mammalian ears that evolved from jawbones.

Ripe fruit detection

The evolutionary development of color vision to help primates identify food sources.

Fossil transitions

Documented changes in the structure and function of anatomical features through evolution.

Sensory neurons

Nerve cells responsible for transmitting sensory signals from receptors to the brain.

Chemical communication

The process of conveying information between organisms through pheromones.

Flaws of vertebrate eyes

Design inefficiencies in human eyes compared to other animals like octopuses.

Olfactory genes

Genes responsible for coding olfactory receptors involved in the detection of odors.

Functionality of genes

The operational capacity of a gene to produce proteins or contribute to traits.

Adult vision adaptations

Changes in visual capabilities that have developed in primates for survival and interaction.

Evolutionary implications for medicine

How understanding evolution can inform medical approaches to human health issues.

Hearing mechanism evolution

The changes in anatomical structures from fish to humans that enable sound detection.

Visual structures in animals

Physiological components responsible for sight, varying significantly among species.

Adaptability in species

The ability of a species to change in response to environmental challenges over time.

Loss of olfactory genes

The decline of functional smell genes in humans compared to other mammals due to evolution.

Evolution of hearing

The development of auditory capabilities and structures through evolutionary processes.

Evolution of structures

The historical changes in anatomical features that adapt for new functions.

Signal transmission in the brain

The process by which sensory information is sent to the brain for interpretation.

Recognition of scents

The ability to identify and distinguish different odor molecules through olfactory receptors.

Function of the retina

Receives and processes light information, facilitating vision.

Species-specific adaptations

Unique evolutionary changes that allow particular species to thrive in their environments.

Major evolutionary changes

Significant transformations in species that reflect adaptation to environmental demands.

Detection of odors

The process by which olfactory receptors sense and identify scent molecules.

Evolutionary biology

The study of the evolutionary processes that produced the diversity of life on Earth.

Hip joint’s evolutionary change

An anatomical transition due to the shift from quadrupedal to bipedal locomotion.

Sensory system complexity

The intricate design of systems that process sensory information in organisms.

Primates and vision

The evolutionary trend among primates towards enhanced visual capabilities at the expense of smell.

Findings from fossil records

Information derived from fossils that provide insight into evolutionary history.

Anatomical transitions

Changes in physical structures over time that reflect evolutionary adaptations.

Role of mutations

Genetic changes that can influence the survival and adaptation of species.

Olfactory system function

The biological system responsible for the sense of smell and its neural processing.

Conservation of genetic functions

The retention of essential genes across species due to common ancestry.

Structural adaptations

Physical changes in organisms that enhance their ability to live in their environments.

Comparative anatomy

The study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of different species.

Optic nerve function

Transmits visual information from the retina to the brain for processing.

Reptilian eye evolution

Changes that occurred in eye structure as species adapted from reptiles to mammals.

Evolution as a framework

Understanding biological processes and structures through the lens of evolutionary history.

Sound detection systems

Biological features that evolved for the purpose of detecting and interpreting sound.