Partner choice

12 important questions on Partner choice

Why is a sense of smelling important?


  • Taste
  • Alarm signal
  • Communication: pheromones

What are odor receptors?

Odor receptors are transmembrane proteins in olfactory neurons.

What are three types of odor receptors?

  • Vomeronasal receptors (V1R, R2R)
  • Olfactory receptors (OR)
  • Trace amine-associated recptors (TAAR)
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What is the influence of the mucosa olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO)?

The MOE is for species-specific recognition by pheromones (trimethylamine) and MHC proteins.
The VNO is for MHC protein recognition.

TME attraction is specie-specific, explain this.

Mice are atracked to TME, rats run away from it.

How do people memorize odor?

Odors activate highly complex unique combinations of olfactory receptors. These combinations are memorized and determine odor recognition.

What receptors are important in odor perception in humans?

  • Olfactory receptors
  • TAAR receptors: aversion

What does AND exposure cause in woman?

  • Increase of cortisol levels
  • Activation of vemeronasal nerve
  • Increased positive behavior, sexual arousal and physiological activity

Human detection of androstenone is dependent on genotype, explain this using OR7D4.

  • OR7D4 binds androstenone
  • OR7D4-RT has high activity for androstenone (is very sensitive)
  • OR7D4-WM is very insensitive for androstenone

What is a selective advantage of a variable MHC?

  • Variation in antigen biosynthesis
  • The more antigen variants the better unknown pathogens can be attacked.

What is the hypothesis of involvement of MHC peptides in woman partner choice?

  • MHC genes and olfactory receptors are genetically linked in most animals.
  • MHC peptides can potentially be recognized by olfactory receptors.
  • MHC molecules influence fitness.

Does the contraceptive pill alter male choice in humans?

Yes this is the case, however when these studies were done a 1st generation anti-conceptive pill was used, which is much stronger.

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