Different Smells Could Affect Your Gene Expression Which Could Lead to New Medical Treatments

Veuer

A new study from the University of California, Riverside finds that odors can affect gene expression, which could lead to new forms of medical treatment. Veuer’s Matt Hoffman reports.

Transcript

00:00A new study suggests that scents could one day have a use beyond making you more appealing for your date.

00:06The study was performed at the University of California, Riverside.

00:10The authors exposed fruit flies, mice, and human cells to the odorant diacetyl

00:14and found that this changed the subject's gene expression.

00:18This means that the smells we inhale could be affecting our health

00:21and that they could be used intentionally to treat conditions like cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

00:26In a news release, lead author Anandasankar Ray said

00:30that exposure to an odorant can directly alter expression of genes

00:34even in tissues that have no odorant receptors came as a complete surprise.

00:39Ray is an insect neuroscientist who has extensively studied how scents can attract or repel bugs.

00:44Diacetyl is unsafe in high amounts for humans,

00:47so Ray says it may not be the perfect candidate for use as a medical treatment.

00:51But someday, your doctor may be prescribing you an aroma.

Category

Transcript

Recommended