Responses to Cues Associated with Kinship

威索基博士研究的长期目标是了解犁鼻系统和嗅觉系统在化学感觉交流中的不同作用。犁鼻系统独立于嗅觉系统，在许多神经内分泌和行为反应的调解中起着重要作用。威索基博士用老鼠作为模型系统，证明犁鼻器官负责探测物种内部的生物相关气味或信息素。在研究机会奖的支持下，他的研究项目的广度现在可以通过采用更一般的比较方法来扩展。卡尔博士是比弗学院的教授，这是一所小型本科教学机构。他将在休假期间与威索基博士一起在宾夕法尼亚州费城的莫奈尔化学感官中心工作。卡尔博士将确定家养狗是否有识别亲属的能力。如果成功，研究人员将探索亲缘识别的遗传和经验决定因素，并在继续的合作工作中确定嗅觉和犁鼻系统在犬类中的作用。

The long-term goal of Dr. Wysocki's research is to understand the distinct roles of the vomeronasal and the olfactory systems in chemosensory communication. The vomeronasal system, which independent of the olfactory system, is of prime importance in the mediation of numerous neuroendocrine and behavioral responses. Using mice as a model system, Dr. Wysocki has shown that the vomeronasal organ is responsible for the detection of within species, biologically relevant odors or pheromones. With the support from a Research Opportunity Award, the breadth of his research program can now be extended by adopting a more general comparative approach. Dr. Carr is a Professor from Beaver College, a small undergraduate teaching institution. He will spend his sabbatical leave working with Dr. Wysocki at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Carr will determine whether domestic dogs are capable of recognizing kin. If successful, the investigators will explore the genetic and experiential determinants of kin recognition, and, in continued collaborative work, determine the roles of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems in canines.