Chemicals and chemical processes are important in life yet their potential is only unlocked to the masses through thorough research. The pheromone effect is one such process which has been around since time immemorial yet the chemicals involved in the process were fully catalogued in the 1950s. Consequently, this paper adds to the knowledge of the pheromone effect through research. Pheromones cause the pheromone effect but its importance to society is not spread globally. Therefore the central topic is the pheromone effect in relation to chemistry by exploring the various types and effects of pheromones as chemicals. Additionally, the research explores the relevance of the study topic to the student in particular and society in general. The two relevance areas of arguments of the study are covered in the rationale section of study. Nevertheless, the research tackles the pheromone effect problem by seeking to answer the following question, “What is the pheromone effect in relation to chemistry?” the findings are summed up in the conclusion section.
The Purpose/Rationale of the Study
Pheromones play an important role in the life yet the chemical processes involved in their vast applications are not widely known to many people. Fortunately, the power of research has capability to bridge the knowledge gap in given problems. Consequently, the study seeks to explain the chemical processes involved in the pheromone effect. Pheromones can occur naturally or synthetically but they all perform similar functions. There are about nine distinctive functions performed by pheromones in members of a given species. Although, pheromones are known to trigger social responses in members of the same species, the chemical processes involved to bring about the desired response are not widely discussed (Ruther, 2013). Therefore, the paper uses secondary sources of information to bridge the knowledge gap. The chemical processes involved in the pheromone effect have the power to be harnessed economically, especially in the production of specific species of animals and insects. Furthermore, people may understand the various uses of pheromones through similar research in future. Exploring the concept of pheromone effect is not complete without establishing its relationship to science. Firstly, the pheromone effect involves chemicals which act through specific processes to initiate a particular social response. The processes are scientific in nature because they involve a chemical interaction in the body the host (the secreting species) and the recipient.
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Explaining the processes involved in the transmission and reception of the pheromones to cause the pheromone effect requires a scientific approach. Explaining the pheromone effect demands supplying answers to the following questions: what are pheromones? How are they secreted? How are they transmitted? How are they received? Lastly, how do they cause the pheromone effect in the recipient? This requires conducting research through experimentation and making scientific conclusions for a certain audience.
The Chemical Concept of Pheromone Effect
The chemical concept of the pheromone effect is a wide discipline covering a variety of pheromones secreted externally from the body of a given species. Pheromones, unlike hormones, are secreted externally and causes an effect to another member of the same or different species. Therefore, this section is divided into four parts to explain the chemical concept of the pheromone effect. The first part covers the definition and chemical composition of pheromones. Transitionally, the second part deals with the functions of pheromones and how they bring about various pheromone effects. Collectively, the third part explains the secretion and transmission of pheromones. Lastly, how do pheromones cause a social response in the receiving member?
Definition and Chemical Composition of Pheromones
Pheromones are chemicals in nature and they are externally secreted by individuals to cause a specific behavioral change in the second member of the same species when received. Interestingly, the secreted pheromone is said to trigger a social response in the second member of the same species. Scientific inquiries showed mammals receive the chemical signals from others through a nasal organ known as the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Man shows existence of the VNO before birth but the organ is inactive after birth (Stowers & Spehr, 2014). Therefore, the pheromone effect is more developed in other mammals and non-mammals like reptiles than in man. Chemically, pheromones have a typical basic structure of any other inorganic compound but they vary in molecular weights. However, pheromones can have molecular weights between 80 and 300 with the number of carbon atoms in each chain limited between 5 to 20 atoms. The chemical nature of each pheromone defines its type and function (Yajima, 2014). Consequently, this leads to the following types of pheromones as generalized for all mammals and non-mammals.
Aggregation pheromones
Alarm pheromones
Primer pheromones
Signal pheromones
Releaser pheromones
Territorial pheromones
Trail pheromones
Information pheromones
Epideictic pheromones
Each of the pheromone listed above has a specific molecular weight and performs a particular function in a given species. The molecular weight and carbon atoms range given above is attributed to the fact that very few glandular tissues can manufacture and store hydrocarbons below molecular weight of 80 and 5 carbon atoms respectively. These chemical structures are the very essence of sending chemical signals similar to visual messages that are received and interpreted by members of the same species. Below are some of the structures attributed to pheromones.
2-methyl 4-heptanone
4-heptanone
6-methyl 5-heptene- 2-one
4-hydroxy 4-methyl-2-pentanone
These chemical structures are just a fraction of the many naturally and synthetically available pheromones capable of causing a pheromone effect in mammals, reptiles, and insects. The chemical structure of pheromones is related to their function for every species and the following section shows the function of each type of pheromone in mammals, reptiles and insects.
Types and Functions of Pheromones
There are nine documented types of pheromones which cause the pheromone effect in mammals, insects and reptiles. Uniquely, each pheromone sends a specific signal for a particular social response.
Aggregation pheromones : they chemically triggers male selection, defense against predators, and the ability to overcome any resistance from the host by, typically, mass attack.
Alarm pheromones : these chemicals are usually released by some species to cause flight or aggression behavior in members of the same species against predators.
Primer pheromones : they have a long time effect on the neuroendocrine or endocrine systems associated to reproductive physiology or development of an organism.
Signal pheromones : Signal hormones are one of the marvels of the pheromone effect because they chemically provide temporary information about members of the same species.
Releaser pheromones : these chemicals, when released, often elicit immediate behavioral response
Modulator : modulator pheromones affect the neuropsychological aspects of the species involved. Human pheromones typically cause these social response and they have been central to studies for commercial production of some chemicals.
The chemical processes involved in the production of responses for each category of pheromones in a complex process beyond the scope of this paper but the signals are transmitted and received vial chemical paths.
Secretion and transmission of Pheromones
Pheromones must be externally secreted and transmitted before they are received and interpreted by the recipient to cause a social response. Interestingly, some plants do exhibit the pheromone effect too. Naturally, pheromones are secreted in the glandular tissues of mammals, reptiles, and insects. Notably, the glandular tissues are internally positioned in the body of the signaler but the produced chemicals are externally propagated to reach the receiver (Baker, Zhu, & Miller, 2016). However, traces of pheromones can also be found in secretions such as urine. The location of the glandular tissues secreting the pheromones is the same for the members of the same species but different for others. Consequently, signaler pheromones can only be used by members of the same species. However, pheromones secreted by members of different species are usually common among predator-prey associations. For instance, skunks emit an awfully smelling substance when threatened to ward of the enemy. Besides the natural production of pheromones, synthetic types are commercially available too. The ability to synthesis specific pheromones has enabled man to mimic the natural process happening in the plant and animal kingdoms. Therefore, various pheromones are in use for pest control and many other uses. Nevertheless, reception and interpretation of information contained in the pheromones is mysterious.
Reception of Pheromones
Pheromones cannot be useful to the animal or insect if the receiver fails to interpret them through special receptors. The VNO organ receives the chemical signals in mammals but insects have a different mode of reception. Generally, chemoreceptors are specialized organs for reception of chemical signals for mammals, reptiles and insects (Baker, Zhu, & Miller, 2016). Chemo sensors on the body of animals or insects trap the molecular chemical signals and relays them to specific sites for recognition. Every chemical molecule of a pheromone reaching that site depolarizes a specific membrane, stimulating a nerve impulse to the brain for interpretation and response. Therefore, pheromone effect involves a complex chemical process bringing about specific social responses.
The pheromone effect is an important chemical process which helps mammals, reptiles, and insects communicate without vocalization. Although, the chemical substances can be secreted naturally by glandular tissues, pheromones can be synthesized artificially to achieve different the pheromone effect in mammals and insects. The potential to use the pheromone effect is enormous, especially in pest control and animal breeding.
References
Baker, T. C., Zhu, J. J., & Millar, J. G. (2016). Delivering on the promise of pheromones. Journal of chemical ecology , 42 (7), 553-556.
Ruther, J. (2013). Novel insights into pheromone ‐ mediated communication in parasitic hymenopterans. Chemical Ecology of Insect Parasitoids , 112-144.
Stowers, L., & Spehr, M. (2015). The Vomeronasal Organ. Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation , 1113-1132.
Yajima, A. (2014). Recent progress in the chemistry and chemical biology of microbial signaling molecules: quorum-sensing pheromones and microbial hormones. Tetrahedron Letters , 55 (17), 2773-2780.
