In the nose
Receptors take part in detection. Perception then results from processing that also involves the brain, memory, learning and context.
Dossier 05 · What detects
Olfactory receptors, in the nose and elsewhere.
In the nose, odorant molecules reach receptors carried on the membranes of the olfactory cilia. The brain then processes the information and contributes to the perception of the odour.
In other tissues
Members of this family are being studied, notably in the skin, the gut, the lungs and other organs. They may take part in cellular responses that differ from conscious olfaction.
What needs to be verified
The presence of an RNA does not on its own prove that a functional receptor is present in the membrane. Function must be demonstrated receptor by receptor and tissue by tissue.
The bridge
Between what circulates and what an organism can detect.
A compound does not act simply because it exists in the air. It must reach a target, be present at a relevant concentration and encounter a biological context that allows a response.