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Smell
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Sense that responds to certain molecules in the air. It works by having receptors for particular chemical groups, into which the airborne chemicals must fit to trigger a message to the brain.
A sense of smell is used to detect food and to communicate with other animals (see pheromone and scent gland). Humans can distinguish between about 10,000 different smells. Aquatic animals can sense chemicals in water, but whether this sense should be described as ‘smell’ or ‘taste’ is debatable. See also nose.
© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.
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