Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Shape theory
The Shape theory of smell states that the sensation of smell is due to a 'lock and key' mechanism by which a scent molecule fits into a receptor site in the nose.
The human nose has 347 different receptors, but humans can distinguish thousands of smells. It is possible that there is not a simple one to one relationship between receptors and smells, but instead, that different molecules activate different receptors to different degrees.
Last updated: 05-27-2005 03:09:45
12-03-2008 10:22:39
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details