Genomics of Invertebrate Olfaction

Invertebrates often use olfaction as a primary sensory modality not only to avoid potential dangers but also to locate resources amid their surrounding habitat. The tremendously sensitive olfactory systems of Invertebrates rely on complex protein networks that are the subject of active research. In the last decade, the sequencing of a handful of genomes from insects and worms has led to the identification of large conserved gene families involved in these processes. This chapter attempts to summarize a wealth of scientific studies describing these gene families in terms of their genomic distribution, evolution, and function. The first section is an overview of the olfactory apparatus of invertebrates followed by a description of the various olfactory gene families involved in odor reception, signal transduction, and regulation.