2004 Nobel Prize for Research of Olfactory Systems

In her landmark paper published in 1991 with Richard Axel, Buck discovered hundreds of genes code for the odorant sensors located in the olfactory neurons of our noses. Each receptor is a protein that changes when an odor attaches to the receptor, causing an electrical signal to be sent to the brain. Differences between odorant sensors mean that certain odors cause a signal to be released from a certain receptor, enabling us to interpret varying signals from our receptors as specific scents.

Odorant receptors & uses thereof

Category:
Biology - Physiology, Microbiology

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
AU669107B2; WO2002/059349A8; AU2002243904A1

Co-Inventor:
Richard Axel