Question

Choose the names of pheromones from the terms given in the box below.
a. Cortisol
b. Bombykol
c. Gibberellin
d. Civetone

Answer 1

Hint: The release of pheromones is mostly achieved by the animals in order to different processes. The plants are not known to produce any pheromones as they do not have to lure anyone towards them. So, just identify the animal’s hormones.

Complete answer:
Hormones are released by the glands present in one’s body to perform specific functions related to the metabolism of the animal. So, just like the hormones we have pheromones which are secreted outside the body. They are a type of ectohormones and mainly released from the skin. Unlike the hormones which regulate the functioning of the body instead the pheromones are responsible for the behavior of the other organism.

Amongst the given options provided to us,
> Option A: Cortisol-
The cortisol is a type of steroid hormone which is required by the body in case of stress when the body needs the brain to work more. This specific hormone is released by the adrenal glands. So as we discussed that this hormone is released inside the body and not outside so we can say that this is not a pheromone.

> Option B: Bombykol-
A chemical compound which is released by the females of the silkworm species. This hormone, when released by the silkworm, lures the males towards the female to achieve the sexual reproduction. This is a mating hormone in the silkworms. As this hormone is released outside the body of the organism and it is affecting the other organism, we can say that this is pheromone.

> Option C: Gibberellin-
We all know that Gibberellin is a plant hormone. This gibberellin hormone is responsible for the growth of the plant in helping various processes like stem elongation, germination and flowering. Since it is released inside the plant so it is not a pheromone and also it is not affecting the other plant rather it is affecting itself.

> Option D: Civetone-
Civetone is a chemical compound released by the civets. The civets are the organisms which are known for releasing foul smell at someone whenever they feel danger. The civets releasing this hormone outside the body and affecting other individuals make the civetone a pheromone.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B) and (C).

Note: The pheromones are also known as ectohormones means hormones secreted outside the body. The pheromones are also very helpful to organisms in various functions like leaving trails on path, or marking territories and also they use the pheromones as an alarming signal.