Chapter 45.2, Problem 2R

Summary Introduction

To review:

The mechanism, by which olfactory system is able to distinguish among the whiff of a skunk, a repulsive odor of skunk, and the smell of a skunk cabbage

Introduction:

The olfactory receptors that are present in the nose are able to distinguish among all kinds of smell existing in the environment. A protein signaling pathway called the G protein signaling pathway is activated that detects the smell. The whiff of a skunk, a repulsive odor of skunk, and the smell of a skunk cabbage are detected by activating one common pathway in the olfactory receptors of the nose.