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Senses Week Smell of Success
16 April 2015

Smell of Success

Humans can distinguish an incredible one trillion different odours. So it’s no wonder that around three percent of our genes are dedicated to this gargantuan task. These genetic codes produce hundreds of distinct cells capable of detecting specific chemical ‘smells’ which then rush this information to a specialist brain region. It’s here where signals are mapped out into a unique fingerprint for that odour. But the nerve cells that detect and relay the message are much more than mere couriers. They’re instrumental in forming the odour control centre as animals develop. In this fruit fly brain, areas where these neurons have been ‘knocked out’ by the researchers (right-hand side), fail to develop the intricate web of linking neurons (shown in red) that makes representing smells possible. And it’s a process that’s remarkably similar in growing human embryos – an unexpected result that left the researchers smelling of roses.

Written by Jan Piotrowski

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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