Scientists map over 1,100 smell receptors in mouse noses, revealing organized stripes
Updated
Updated · Livescience.com · Apr 28
Scientists map over 1,100 smell receptors in mouse noses, revealing organized stripes
7 articles · Updated · Livescience.com · Apr 28
Using single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics on 5.5 million neurons from 300 mice, Dr. Sandeep Datta's team found receptor positions were nearly identical across individuals.
The map shows each receptor type forms a distinct stripe, precisely aligned with corresponding brain regions, and identifies retinoic acid as a key molecule guiding receptor placement.
This discovery challenges previous assumptions of random receptor distribution and may inform future research into human olfactory organization and treatments for smell loss and related conditions.
Since humans have fewer receptors, is our 'smell map' simpler than a mouse's?
If the nose has a 'smell map,' how does it help us distinguish millions of different odors?
Can restoring this newly discovered map provide a cure for human smell loss?
What other brain mysteries will advanced cell-mapping technology solve next?
Could a change in our personal smell map be the earliest warning sign for Alzheimer's disease?
Is our internal smell map fixed from birth, or can it change with our experiences?