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OLFACTORY RECEPTORS (OR) "are arranged in clusters up to 100 genes dispersed in 40-100 genomic locations. Each neuron in the olfactory epithelium expresses only one allele of one OR gene." https://lnkd.in/eib7SgQ View in LinkedIn

NON-FUNCTIONAL GENES. "A startlingly high fraction of the human Olfactory Receptor (OR) (at least 63%) has degenerated into pseudogenes, leaving only about 350 apparently functional IR genes." https://lnkd.in/eib7SgQ View in LinkedIn

GENETICS OF OLFACTION. "The olfactory receptor (OR) family is "one of the largest known mammalian gene families, with around 900 genes in human and 1500 in mouse. OR genes code G-protein-coupled receptors containing seven transmembrane domains," some of the more complicated receptor families known. https://lnkd.in/eib7SgQ View in LinkedIn

SENSOMICS. "Sperm cells are known to contain odor receptors, which are thought to play a role in helping the sperm locate the egg. Growing evidence now suggests these receptors are also found in the heart, lungs and blood," and blood cells will tend to migrate towards odors. https://lnkd.in/eigZNr2 View in LinkedIn

SMELL AND EMOTION. "The perception of smell consists not only of the sensation of the odours themselves but of the experiences and emotions associated with these sensations. Smells can evoke strong emotional reactions. In surveys on reactions to odours, responses show that many of our olfactory likes and dislikes are based purely on emotional associations." https://lnkd.in/eaYYGTR View in LinkedIn

KINDRED SCENTS. "Humans can detect individuals that are blood-related kin (mothers/fathers and children but not husbands and wives) from olfaction. Mothers can identify by body odor their biological children but not their stepchildren. Preadolescent children can olfactorily detect their full siblings but not half-siblings or step siblings and this might explain incest avoidance and the Westermarck effect." https://lnkd.in/e9z896Q View in LinkedIn

HIGH SPECIFICITY. "Each odor receptor molecule recognizes only a particular molecular feature or class of odor molecules." https://lnkd.in/e9z896Q View in LinkedIn

ODOR SYSTEM FIDELITY. "In mammals, each olfactory receptor neuron expresses only one functional odor receptor." https://lnkd.in/e9z896Q View in LinkedIn

AUGMENTED APPETITE, the corollary, certainly exists when we smell food cooking. Obvious undesirable commercial applications. https://lnkd.in/emBjZwq View in LinkedIn

ENORMOUS RANGE. The human nose can detect about a trillion smells, using only 1,000 different scent receptors. How can this possibly be? http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/03/human-nose-can-detect-trillion-smells View in LinkedIn