New York, New York – Researchers at New York University have uncovered how ants achieve an astonishingly precise sense of smell, using a genetic mechanism they describe as a “biological bulldozer.” The study, published in Nature, explains how ants control hundreds of olfactory receptor genes to maintain order in their colonies.

Ants communicate through pheromones to hunt, detect intruders, and assign roles. Without exact control of olfactory receptors, “they stop performing their duties, which leads to anarchy,” said Bogdan Sieriebriennikov, first author of the study. “These ants get confused and attack each other. It starts with lack of communication and ends in catastrophe.”

Ants evolved up to 500 olfactory receptor genes. Claude Desplan, lead author, noted, “Ants have a better sense of smell than us.” Each sensory neuron must activate only one receptor gene while silencing all neighbors to prevent confusion.

The researchers found that transcription machinery in ant gene clusters bypasses gene endings, sweeping downstream genes into inactivity—a process Sieriebriennikov calls a “runaway bulldozer.” The chosen gene also produces antisense RNA upstream, shutting off adjacent genes and ensuring a single active receptor per neuron.

“This beautiful yet unexpected mechanism tells you how nature can invent a new system to respect the ‘one gene in each receptor neuron’ rule,” Desplan said. The chance-driven process ensures precise olfaction and preserves colony function.

The study also suggests similarities with humans: protocadherin genes use antisense transcription to ensure correct neuron connections. “Ants and humans are very distant relatives, but when nature faces a similar problem, it may find a similar solution,” Sieriebriennikov explained.

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