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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo
08:29

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo

Published on: October 30, 2014

Evolving olfactory systems on the fly.

Pavan Ramdya1, Richard Benton

  • 1Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.

Trends in Genetics : TIG
|June 12, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding how species-specific smell responses evolve is key. New research on insect olfaction reveals genetic mechanisms for evolving olfactory receptors and circuits, adapting behaviors to changing chemical environments.

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An Explant System for Time-Lapse Imaging Studies of Olfactory Circuit Assembly in Drosophila

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo
08:29

The Olfactory System as a Model to Study Axonal Growth Patterns and Morphology In Vivo

Published on: October 30, 2014

Whole Mount Immunolabeling of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Drosophila Antenna
05:21

Whole Mount Immunolabeling of Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Drosophila Antenna

Published on: May 4, 2014

An Explant System for Time-Lapse Imaging Studies of Olfactory Circuit Assembly in Drosophila
07:06

An Explant System for Time-Lapse Imaging Studies of Olfactory Circuit Assembly in Drosophila

Published on: October 13, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Olfactory detection is crucial for survival behaviors like feeding and mating.
  • Animal olfactory systems share similar organizational principles.
  • Understanding the evolution of species-specific odorant responses is a fundamental question.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize recent findings on the genetic mechanisms of olfactory system evolution.
  • To explore how new olfactory receptors and circuits arise and diverge.
  • To understand the adaptation of odor-evoked behaviors in a changing world.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics
  • Developmental studies
  • Physiological studies
  • Focus on insect olfaction

Main Results:

  • Genomic, developmental, and physiological data offer insights into olfactory system evolution.
  • Mechanisms for the emergence and divergence of olfactory receptors and circuits are being elucidated.
  • Adaptability of odor-evoked behaviors is linked to olfactory system evolution.

Conclusions:

  • The evolution of olfactory systems is driven by genetic mechanisms.
  • Divergence in olfactory receptors and circuits allows for species-specific behavioral adaptations.
  • Insect olfaction provides a model for understanding chemosensory adaptation.