By NYC Gazette |
Jun 7, 2024
Researchers from New York University and the University of Florida have discovered that a protein named Orco, essential for olfactory cell function, is also critical for the survival of these cells in ants. Their study, published in Science Advances, reveals that mutating the orco gene in Harpegnathos saltator jumping ants significantly reduces the number of olfactory neurons, indicating that Orco is vital for the development and longevity of these cells.