Using 3D volumetric, sequence analysis and machine learning to disentangle the evolution of the striatum in Ungulates and Carnivora
Description
The Euungulata as a group are comprised of more than 280 different species of hoofed mammals for which we know very little about their comparative neuroanatomy and the supportive role the brain plays in maintaining anti-predatory behaviors. Here we used a combination of volumetric image analysis, mRNA sequence data and mathematical modelling to compare the size and genetic architecture of the striatum, in 12 Euungulata and 12 Carnivora species. Our results revealed a marked divergence in the scaling attributes and proportional size of the striatal subcomponents, with Euungulata having notably larger putamen (both relative and absolute) in comparison to the Carnivora. Mathematical modelling indicated that the size of the putamen in prey species is a strong, positive predictor of predator selectivity, suggesting that prey with larger putamen are better suited to avoid or adapt to predation pressure. In addition, comparative sequence analysis of the SLC398A gene, which in humans is associated with volumetric changes in the putamen, revealed a marked divergence between the euungulates and Carnivora and the occurrence of a unique nucleotide sequence found only in the euungulates. Using an in-silico generator and complimentary phylogenetic analysis and protein modelling, we postulate that the emergence of this unique nucleotide sequence in the euungulates arose through horizontal gene transfer from intermediary parasites (likely ticks) but further studies are needed to validate this hypothesis. The results of this current study help to advance a broader understanding of the neural components underlying predator-prey interactions and their entanglement through coevolutionary mechanisms.
Citation Information
Bane, Rachel; Flemming, Stanley; and Spocter, Muhammad A., "Using 3D volumetric, sequence analysis and machine learning to disentangle the evolution of the striatum in Ungulates and Carnivora" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 104.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/104
Using 3D volumetric, sequence analysis and machine learning to disentangle the evolution of the striatum in Ungulates and Carnivora
The Euungulata as a group are comprised of more than 280 different species of hoofed mammals for which we know very little about their comparative neuroanatomy and the supportive role the brain plays in maintaining anti-predatory behaviors. Here we used a combination of volumetric image analysis, mRNA sequence data and mathematical modelling to compare the size and genetic architecture of the striatum, in 12 Euungulata and 12 Carnivora species. Our results revealed a marked divergence in the scaling attributes and proportional size of the striatal subcomponents, with Euungulata having notably larger putamen (both relative and absolute) in comparison to the Carnivora. Mathematical modelling indicated that the size of the putamen in prey species is a strong, positive predictor of predator selectivity, suggesting that prey with larger putamen are better suited to avoid or adapt to predation pressure. In addition, comparative sequence analysis of the SLC398A gene, which in humans is associated with volumetric changes in the putamen, revealed a marked divergence between the euungulates and Carnivora and the occurrence of a unique nucleotide sequence found only in the euungulates. Using an in-silico generator and complimentary phylogenetic analysis and protein modelling, we postulate that the emergence of this unique nucleotide sequence in the euungulates arose through horizontal gene transfer from intermediary parasites (likely ticks) but further studies are needed to validate this hypothesis. The results of this current study help to advance a broader understanding of the neural components underlying predator-prey interactions and their entanglement through coevolutionary mechanisms.
