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‘Pheromones’: a New Term for a Class of Biologically Active Substances
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In the citing paper
“The term pheromone was coined to describe a chemical substance which carries a message about the physiological or behavioral state of an insect to members of its own species, resulting in 'a specific reaction, for example a definite behaviour or a developmental process' (Karlson and Luscher, 1959).”
From Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: A Critical Review of Best and Worst Cases (2001) · cites this paper as Karlson and Luscher, 1959
In the citing paper
“It can be argued (Beauchamp et al., 1976) that there is no need for a special term for mutually beneficial chemical communication, but, as emphasized by Karlson and Luscher (Karlson and Luscher, 1959), some distinction between communication and a casual use of chemosensory information does seem a useful distinction.”
From Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: A Critical Review of Best and Worst Cases (2001) · cites this paper as Karlson and Luscher, 1959
In the citing paper
“It is clear in the original description, and in a later more extensive review of examples (Karlson and Butenandt, 1959), that this was to be real communication, beneficial to the sender and, by implication, to the receiver.”
From Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: A Critical Review of Best and Worst Cases (2001) · cites this paper as Karlson and Luscher, 1959
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Research works printed but not linked: 12
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- Lüscher, M., Insectes Sociaux, 3, 119 (1956); Rev. suisse Zool., 63, 261 (1956). · DOI
- Götz, B., Experientia, 7, 408 (1951). · DOI
- Butenandt, A., Nova Acta Leop. Carol., N.F., 17, 445 (1955).
- Wharton, D. R. A., Miller, G. L., and Wharton, M. L., J. Gen. Physiol., 37, 461 (1954). · DOI
- Renner, M., Z. vergl. Physiol. (in the press).
- Kullenberg, B., Zool. Bidr. Uppsala, 31, 253 (1956).
- Forster, G. R., J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K., 30, 333 (1951). · DOI
- Frisch, K. v., Z. vergl. Physiol., 29, 46 (1941). · DOI
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“…largely unavailable; (iii) pheromone identification, 10 Städler and their role in insect behaviour: the term ‘pheromone’ was only created in 1959 by Karlson & Lüscher (1959) and of course the techniques [gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), GC-electrophysiology] used today to study…”
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BackgroundDiffusible fruiting factor in Myxococcus coralloides and Myxococcus fulvus
Ruiz, C., Monteoliva-Sánchez, M., & Ramos-Cormenzana, A. (1987) · doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02113.x
Butler, C. (1967) · doi:10.1111/j.1469-185x.1967.tb01339.x
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“Based on these findings, Karlson and Lüscher (1959) proposed the term pheromone (from ancient Greek, pherein = carry and hormon = set in motion, excite, see Box 1) for all those molecules, which are produced by an organism and elicit a certain reaction or behaviour in another organism of the same…”
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“Pheromones are substances secreted to the outside by an individual and received by another individual of the same species that trigger distinct reactions, such as behaviors or developmental processes (Karlson and Lüscher, 1959).”
BackgroundFish pheromones and related cues (Eds. Sorensen and Wisenden)
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“More specifically, the book focuses on ‘pheromones’, a term that was first coined in 1959 (Karlson and Lüscher 1959).”
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“species, in which they release a specific reaction’ (Karlson and Luscher 1959).”
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Wilburn, W. B. (2014) · doi:10.18297/etd/1569
“The term was first coined by Karlson and Luscher in 1959, a combination of the Greek words pherin (“to secrete”) and hormone (“to stimulate”), and was defined as “substances which are secreted to the outside by an individual and received by a second individual of the same species, in which they release a specific reac…”
BackgroundInfluentialEcological effects of predator chemical cues in aquatic ecosystem
Qin, G.-Q., Lu, H.-L., Tang, Z.-Z., Zhao, P., Bai, X.-T., & Peng, L. (2014) · doi:10.5846/stxb201306051343
Metadata
- Authors
- KARLSON, P., & LÜSCHER, M.
- Affiliations
- Max Planck Society (DE)
- University of Bern (CH)
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 1959-01
- Volume
- 183
- Issue
- 4653
- Pages
- 55-56
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- OpenAlex
- W2012771681
- Cited by
- 1,364
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 55 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 70 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 58
- FWCI
- 22.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Keywords
- pheromones, chemical communication, insect glands, interspecies communication, mating behavior
- MeSH terms
- Hormones, Humans, Pheromones
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