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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
09:53
Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
Published on: April 23, 2019
Nose thyself: individuality in the human olfactory genome
Xiaohong Zhang1, Stuart Firestein
1Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Genome Biology
|December 19, 2007
Summary
Genetic variations in odorant receptors influence how people perceive the smell of androstenone, a steroid compound. This research links specific genetic changes to differences in smell perception.
Area of Science:
- Olfactory neuroscience
- Genetics
- Human sensory perception
Background:
- Individual differences in odor perception are common.
- The genetic basis for these variations is not fully understood.
- Odorant receptors (ORs) are key to detecting smells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between genetic variations in an odorant receptor and the perception of androstenone.
- To explore the genetic underpinnings of olfactory variability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cell-based assays to study odorant receptor function.
- Conducted olfactory psychophysical surveys in human participants.
- Analyzed genetic polymorphisms in a specific odorant receptor gene.
Main Results:
- Established a correlation between a specific genetic polymorphism in an odorant receptor and androstenone perception.
- Demonstrated variability in androstenone smell perception among individuals.
- Confirmed the functional impact of the genetic variation on receptor activity.
Conclusions:
- Genetic polymorphisms in odorant receptors contribute significantly to individual differences in smell perception.
- The identified genetic variation directly impacts the perception of the steroid androstenone.
- This finding advances our understanding of the genetic architecture of human olfaction.
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