哺乳动物回声定位趋同机制揭示

Core Insights - The research reveals a convergent mechanism of echolocation in different mammalian species, providing new perspectives on the evolutionary origins of this complex behavior [1][2] - The study highlights the significance of non-coding regulatory regions in the convergent evolution of behaviors, challenging the traditional focus on protein-coding genes [2] Group 1: Research Findings - The study identifies 222 shared open chromatin regions in the hippocampal area of echolocating species, significantly higher than random expectations, indicating a complex gene regulatory network [1] - Traditional auditory-related genes are found to be abnormally active in the hippocampal regulatory networks of echolocating mammals, suggesting their role in spatial localization functions [2] Group 2: Methodology and Implications - The research employs innovative techniques such as chromatin accessibility sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and transmission electron microscopy to compare the hippocampal gene regulatory features of various species [1] - The establishment of the Daluoshan pig-tailed mouse as a new model organism offers a valuable platform for further exploration of the neural mechanisms underlying echolocation [2]