Odor molecules are detected by the olfactory receptors (hereafter OR) in the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. Each receptor type is expressed within a subset of neurons, from which they directly connect to the olfactory bulb in the brain.[1] Olfaction is essential for survival in most vertebrates; however, the degree to which an animal depends on smell is highly varied.[2] Great variation exists in the number of OR genes among vertebrate species, as shown through bioinformatic analyses. This diversity exists by virtue of the wide-ranging environments that they inhabit. For instance, dolphins that are secondarily adapted to an aquatic niche possess a considerably smaller subset of genes than most mammals.[3] OR gene repertoires have also evolved in relation to other senses, as higher primates with well-developed vision systems tend to have a smaller number of OR genes. As such, investigating the evolutionary changes of OR genes can provide useful information on how genomes respond to environmental changes. Differences in smell sensitivity are also dependent on the anatomy of the olfactory apparatus, such as the size of the olfactory bulb and epithelium.
Nonetheless, the general features of the olfactory system are highly conserved among vertebrates,[4] and, similarly to other sensory systems, olfaction has undergone fairly modest changes throughout the evolution of vertebrates. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that at least three distinct olfactory subsystems are broadly consistent in vertebrates, and a fourth accessory system (vomeronasal) solely arose in tetrapods.[4]
^Young, J. M., & Trask, B. J. (2002). "The sense of smell: genomics of vertebrate odorant receptors". Human Molecular Genetics, 11 (10), 1153-1160.
^Cite error: The named reference nameE was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Niimura, Y. (2012). "Olfactory receptor multigene family in vertebrates: from the viewpoint of evolutionary genomics". Current Genomics, 13(2), 103.
^ abEisthen, H. L. (1997). "Evolution of vertebrate olfactory systems". Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 50 (4), 222-233.
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photosynthesis, olfaction and cellular respiration. Moreover, quantum biology may use computations to model biological interactions in light of quantum mechanical...
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a loss of olfaction (the sense of smell). Speech and language are mainly attributed to the parts of the cerebral cortex. Motor portions of language are...
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of poisons and being poisoned. Food poisoning Garcis, John, Hankins W.G., "The Evolutionof Bitter and the Acquisition of Toxiphobia", in: Olfaction and...
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