While the gut microbiome has been gaining a lot of attention for its potential role in health and disease, it appears that the butt microbiome is important in feline communication. How many times have you seen cats sniffing each other? Brave researchers at the University of California at Davis explored this hidden side of cat communication and published their findings in Scientific Reports. The researchers identified both the bacterial species […]
Admittedly, this is not necessarily a comparative physiology topic. But I couldn’t help exploring this idea as I am munching on a chocolate chip cookie that smelled just too appetizing to walk by. Some restaurants have been accused of intentionally “pumping” out enticing smells to attract customers. After all, the aromas of cooking and baking can attract hungry customers, as well as those who had no intention of seeking out […]
Almost all animals have some ability to detect smells their environment and there are countless odorant molecules and combinations of molecules in the environment that our systems are challenged with identifying. The sense of smell is important in many biological processes such as finding food, mates, and detecting threats. Scents may also conjure up memories and affect our emotions. About 5% of the population either has no (anosmia) or very […]
There has been a lot of speculation that fast food establishments and bakeries intentionally waft smells that attract customers. I’ll admit I find the smell of cheeseburgers quite tempting. Researchers are seeking to understand what draws humans to the smell of fatty foods in an effort to target those sensations as a way to combat obesity and obesity-related diseases. The approach seems reasonable. If I couldn’t smell a juicy grilled […]
If you have ever had a fish tank, you may be familiar with monitoring ammonia levels in the water. Ammonia levels can rise due to overcrowding, overfeeding, as well as fish waste. Nitrite levels in the water also require monitoring as nitrite can bind to hemoglobin, which prevents oxygen from binding. In effect, by preventing oxygen from binding, the fish can succumb to hypoxia. Hannah Hughes, a graduate student working […]
I just saw an interesting review article published in Physiological Reviews that discussed the presence of olfactory (i.e. smell) receptors located outside of the nose. Say what? It turns out that these “smell” receptors are not unique to our nostrils. In fact they are found throughout our bodies. Those found in the heart may be responsible for regulating heart function, those in the immune system are thought to help destroy types […]
Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle 