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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...
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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity
12:02

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

HORDE: comprehensive resource for olfactory receptor genomics.

Tsviya Olender1, Noam Nativ, Doron Lancet

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 16, 2013
PubMed
Summary

The Human Olfactory Receptor Data Explorer (HORDE) is a comprehensive online database detailing olfactory receptor (OR) genes and their variations in humans and other vertebrates. It aids research into odorant perception and OR evolution.

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Last Updated: May 12, 2026

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity
12:02

High-throughput Analysis of Mammalian Olfactory Receptors: Measurement of Receptor Activation via Luciferase Activity

Published on: June 2, 2014

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
09:53

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Published on: April 23, 2019

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
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Published on: October 2, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Bioinformatics
  • Olfactory receptor research

Background:

  • Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest gene family in mammals, crucial for odorant perception and its variability.
  • Understanding ORs is key to deciphering olfactory mechanisms and individual differences in smell.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present the Human Olfactory Receptor Data Explorer (HORDE) as a comprehensive online resource for OR genes and pseudogenes.
  • To detail HORDE's capabilities in analyzing ORs, including interindividual variation and evolutionary aspects.
  • To outline future development plans for HORDE as a community-driven bioinformatics tool.

Main Methods:

  • Automated pipeline for mining OR gene and pseudogene sequences from complete genomes.
  • Card generator for retrieving and displaying detailed annotations for individual ORs from external databases.
  • Search engine for user-friendly retrieval of OR information, including SNPs and CNVs.

Main Results:

  • HORDE provides a complete compendium of OR genes and pseudogenes for humans and four other vertebrates.
  • The database specifically addresses human OR interindividual variation, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variations (CNVs).
  • HORDE includes tools for studying OR evolution and function, supporting research on expanding OR repertoires.

Conclusions:

  • HORDE is a valuable, free online resource for researchers studying olfactory receptors.
  • The platform facilitates the investigation of genetic variations influencing human olfaction.
  • Future enhancements aim to solidify HORDE's role as a central community-based bioinformatics tool for OR research.