Thread: Receptors in the nose

Apparently there are some people who can smell certain chemicals that others can't.
Why is that the case and what are those chemicals?

Originally Posted by question mark

Apparently there are some people who can smell certain chemicals that others can't.
Why is that the case and what are those chemicals?

Hello,

Check out this link: http://nikas-culinaria.com/2006/07/0...and-receptors/ - for info on how the nose and it's receptors work


and this link:http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smel...smell.asp#what - for info on smell disorders

Now for your specific questions...

1. Some people can smell certain chemicals that others can't - this is true, but this can have many causes as you'll see from the articles above...
Certain people are born and or through accidents etc.. are missing certain receptors so they may not be (able/or as able) to smell certain chemicals i.e. the chemicals that bind to the aforementioned receptors as those people who have normally functioning receptors...

Also it is possible that a person has all of the right receptors in their nose, but their brain processes the information incorrectly...
Hormones etc can all interfere with a sense of taste and smell...

2. What are the chemicals? Well I'd imagine the chemicals that can and can't be smelled would vary a lot depending on the person... here is an article related to taste sensitivity that might give you a better idea: http://www.tastescience.com/abouttaste3.html

hope this helps..
Good luck : )

The nose contains G-coupled receptors which combinatorially detect smells by binding various volatile components of any material. Due to genetic variation, some people might have receptors to bind a certain molecules while others lack it. Those who lack it won't be able to detect those molecules by sense of smell.