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Fig. 7 | Zoological Letters

Fig. 7

From: A transcriptomic reevaluation of the accessory olfactory organ in Bichir (Polypterus senegalus)

Fig. 7

The origin and evolution of the VNO in vertebrates. (A) Possible scenarios for the timing of VNO acquisition and a step-by-step evolution of the vomeronasal system in vertebrates. Considering that the VNO-like region was not found in bichir and gar, the acquisition of the VNO is likely to be later than the common ancestor of Sarcopterygii. However, the gene sets for advanced vomeronasal sensory neurons had already existed in the common ancestor of Osteichthyes. (B) Reversal in the pattern of Go/Golf expressions. Considering that the pattern of expression of Go (basal) and Golf (apical) in the olfactory epithelium of bichir is similar to that of amphibians (and partly similar to the VNO of mammals), it is parsimonious that the reversal of Go/Golf expression occurred in the common ancestor of teleost fish

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