Objective
Insects possess a highly developed sense of smell and live, as far as they are concerned, in a world dominated by odors. The evolution of olfactory preference is at the very basis of the enormous niche differentiation and adaptive radiation in insects. Paradoxically, the proximate mechanisms underlying the evolution of olfactory preference are elusive. I propose to take up this issue using the simple olfactory subcircuitry of moth pheromone communication. Here I propose to study the evolutionary neuroethology of the European corn borer. Despite the pest status, the species has a polymorphism of pheromone preference. Two strains exist which produce and respond to opposite ratios of the two pheromone components. I recently discovered that this saltatory shift in pheromone preference is located in the antenna. Most likely this single gene mediated shift in preference is caused by a swap of pheromone receptors in sensory neurons. The swap reverses the preference for the ratio of the two pheromone components, and supports the coexistence of two strains. Using a multidisciplinary approach involving molecular biology, physiology and immunocytochemistry, I will elucidate the mechanisms that underles this swap. The research will unveil mechanisms underpinning evolution of pheromone preference. These are at the very basis of adaptive radiation, race formation and biodiversity.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.