Humans’ sense of smell is still evolving
A genetic study shows how smell capabilities were maintained in a hunter-gatherer population
The sense of smell in humans is still evolving, according to a genetic study. Despite common belief that humans are losing their sense of smell, researchers have found that it is actually being reshaped by lifestyle, diet, and culture. This conclusion comes from a study led by Lian Deng of Fudan University in China, who analyzed genomes from 50 Indigenous people from the Malay Peninsula and compared them with other populations worldwide.
The hunter-gatherers from the Malay Peninsula were found to have preserved a more complete set of smell-receptor genes than other groups studied. This is significant because many genes in most populations have accumulated mutations over time, leaving about 60% of them nonfunctional. However, the hunter-gatherers showed significantly fewer mutations in their olfactory-receptor genes.
These intact gene variants are linked to sensing earthy, floral, and fruity smells, which are often tied to food and other vital resources. The study also found that in one farming group, there was a distinct version of a receptor gene called OR12D3, which may reflect adaptation to the higher-carbohydrate diet associated with agriculture.
This research highlights the importance of studying living populations, such as hunter-gatherers, to understand the deep history of human genetic diversity.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
