| "Our highest assurance of the goodness of | | | | specialized receptor cells called olfactory receptor |
| Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All | | | | neurons detect the odor. These neurons are capable |
| other things, our powers, our desires, our food, are all | | | | of detecting thousands of different odors. |
| really necessary for our existence in the first instance. | | | | 3. The olfactory receptor neurons transmit the |
| But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an | | | | information to the olfactory bulbs, which are located at |
| embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only | | | | the back of the nose. |
| goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that | | | | 4. The olfactory bulbs have sensory receptors that |
| we have much to hope from the flowers." - Sir Arthur | | | | are actually part of the brain which send messages |
| Conan Doyle | | | | directly to: |
| In a January 6th, 2005 report [1], The Biotechnology | | | | *Brain centers where they influence emotions and |
| and Biological Sciences Research Council located in | | | | memories (limbic system structures), and |
| the U.K. indicated they have spent enormous research | | | | *Centers where they modify conscious thought |
| hours on the human nose. One of their findings | | | | (neo-cortex). |
| indicates, "The airflow through the human nose is more | | | | 5. These brain centers perceive odors and access |
| complicated than that over a jumbo jet's wing." | | | | memories to remind us about people, places, or events |
| Dr Denis Doorly, a principle researcher with BBSRC | | | | associated with these olfactory sensations. [2] |
| said, "People are used to the flows around an | | | | The complexities associated with the human nose |
| aeroplane being complicated but that is in some ways | | | | were not lost on Linda Buck, an olfaction researcher |
| simpler than understanding the flows inside the nose." | | | | who indicates [3], "The alphabet contains just 26 letters, |
| Beyond airflow complexities is the fact that the human | | | | yet we have thousands of words and numerous |
| nose can differentiate between unique chemicals. | | | | complex languages to convey meaning. Similarly, with |
| The sense of smell is also tied to the sense of taste | | | | 1,000 types of odor receptors working together in |
| with both the olfactory center and tastes buds | | | | different combinations, your nose can make codes for |
| working in concert to deliver a robust experience in | | | | about 10,000 odors." |
| taste. | | | | Proponents of evolution are happy to provide the |
| Five million scent receptors can be found inside the | | | | theory of natural selection to help explain how we |
| human nose to help you distinguish between the | | | | possess the dynamic sense of smell, but the nose is a |
| beautiful scent of a flower and food that may need to | | | | very complex instrument that defies the notion of |
| be thrown out. The nose can help alert you to danger | | | | natural selection. TSBVI indicates that, "When |
| or it may provide a sense of peace and safety. | | | | interacting with a child who is deaf-blind we should be |
| Because the function of smell is chemical in nature it | | | | aware of the environmental odors that might be |
| functions in a way similar to taste, but can detect | | | | affecting the child's behavior." |
| scent chemicals with the scent needing direct contact | | | | Even when other systems may malfunction the height |
| with the interior of the nose. | | | | of scent can still be a dynamic way for individuals to |
| The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired | | | | define their environment. |
| (TSBVI) describes the function of the nose. | | | | Maybe the nose looks designed because it is designed. |
| 1. Vaporized odor molecules (chemicals) floating in the | | | | [1] bbsrc.ac.uk/media/ |
| air reach the nostrils and dissolve in the mucus (which | | | | [2] tsbvi.edu/ |
| is on the roof of each nostril). | | | | [3] riverdeep. |
| 2. Underneath the mucus, in the olfactory epithelium, | | | | |