The nose of modern man does not seem to “catch” the same odors as those of our ancestors, as revealed by a new study on the genetic background of olfactory receptors.

We are losing the sense of smell, say the researchers, gradually, but unquestionably. Modern man does not have as strong a nose as his ancestors support research published in PLOS Genetics.

As part of the research, American and Chinese researchers examined the olfactory perception of volunteers, including the recognition of the smell of the axillary area. According to the conclusions of the researchers, our sense of smell is gradually deteriorating.

The sense of smell is personalized and the same scent can be pleasant, intense or undetectable in different people. By combining differences in olfactory perception and genetics, scientists can determine the role of different olfactory receptors.

In the study, researchers in the United States and China analyzed the genome of 1,000 Han people in China. They looked for genetic variants related to how people perceived 10 odors. The researchers then repeated the experiment on six odors in an ethnically different group of 364 people.

From these experiments, they identified two new odor receptors – one that detects a synthetic calf scent used in perfumery and another for a compound in body odor.

These findings as well as previous research show that people with ancestral versions of olfactory receptors tend to find the corresponding odor more pronounced. The ancestral variants are the ones we share with other mammals according to the research team.

According to scientists, the above findings support the theory that our sense of smell has been weakened over time due to genetic changes.

Source: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009564

Image Credit: Getty

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