Do you smell what I smell? Linking inner nose phenotypic traits and their underlying olfactory receptor genes to olfactory performance based on genotype-phenotype associations. A case study in Primates (Mammalia)

哺乳动物的嗅觉能力很难基于形态特征来评估，除了嗅觉受体(OR)基因的分析外，大多数研究都是基于形态特征的。在本项目中，我们应用比较基因组学将小型灵长类(嗅觉差)灵长类动物的鼻部表型(例如，形态)与基因型(OR基因)联系起来，以揭示尽管鼻部区域减少，它们对气味的敏感性仍然相对较高。我们应用了创新的表型方法，即表型性状在包括13科45种灵长类物种的在线数据矩阵中以数字代码给出。主要数据(例如，嗅上皮厚度和表面积、神经元密度)将基于我的两位东道主研究人员开发的一种新应用程序来推断：首先使用微型计算机断层扫描(μCT)或另外用碘溶液染色进行DICECT，然后准备进行组织切片。然后，鼻腔的μCT和DICECT切片与相应的数字化组织学序列切片匹配，以合并单个细胞和组织结构，以重建整个虚拟3D模型。形态特征和地形特征是基于描述性数据收集的，形态特征是使用几何形态计量学收集的。我们进一步包括从文献中推断的活动模式和饮食，因为它们与嗅觉有关，并被认为也与鼻腔形态相互作用。在标本上收集的原始数据和有关生态/行为学特征的文字文献信息被转换为机器可操作的数据。通过描述性分析和统计分析，它们代表了与已测序的OR基因相关的表型(与遗传学家合作)。我们考虑了系统发育关系，并应用Grundplan重建来探索鼻型及其相关OR基因之间的共同进化如何决定灵长类动物的嗅觉能力。我们考察了沿着选定的谱系的进化限制及其在生态位占领期间对适应策略的影响。通过结合表型和互补成像技术的融合这两种创新方法，我们为新生物和古生物学的多学科研究提供了全面的计算机可访问的表型数据，如生态相互作用、进化模式和基因-表型关联。特别是，组织学和CT数据的融合提供了到目前为止对结构复合体最精确的检查。它可以转移到身体的任何部位和组织，并将促进生物和生物医学研究。

The olfactory ability of mammals is difficult to assess based on morphological traits, which are mostly studied apart from the analyses of olfactory receptor (OR) genes. In the present project, we apply comparative genomics to associate the genotype (OR genes) with the phenotype (e.g., morphology) of the nasal region in microsmatic (poor sense of smell) primates to reveal their yet comparatively high sensitivity to odorants despite a reduced nasal region. We apply the innovative phenotyping approach, in that phenotypic traits are given in a numeric code in an online data matrix which includes 45 primate species of 13 families. The primary data (e.g., olfactory epithelium thickness and surface area, neuron density) will be inferred based on a novel application which was developed by my two host researchers: a specimen is first scanned with micro-computed tomography (μCT) or additionally stained with an iodine solution for diceCT and subsequently prepared for histological sectioning. The μCT and diceCT sections of the nasal cavity are then matched with the corresponding digitized histological serial sections to merge individual cell and tissue structures for the reconstruction of an overall virtual 3D model. Morphological and topographical traits are collected based on descriptive data, and morphometric traits by use of Geometric Morphometrics. We further include activity patterns and diets inferred from literature, as they are associated with olfaction and assumed to interact with intranasal morphology, too. The primary data collected on the specimens and the worded literature information on ecological/ethological traits are converted into machine-actionable data. They represent the phenotypes which are associated with the sequenced OR genes (collaboration with geneticists) by use of descriptive and statistical analyses. We consider phylogenetic relationships and apply grundplan reconstruction to explore how the co-evolution between the nose phenotypes and their associated OR genes determine the olfactory ability among primates. We examine evolutionary constraints along selected lineages and their effects on adaptive strategies during ecological niche occupation. By combining two innovative approaches, phenotyping and the fusion of complementary imaging techniques, we provide comprehensive computer-accessible phenotypic data for multidisciplinary research in neontology and paleontology, like ecological interactions, evolutionary patterns, and genotype-phenotype associations. Particularly, the merging of histology with CT data offers so far the most precise examination of structural complexes. It can be transferred to any body part and tissue, and will promote biological and biomedical research.