Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Researchers have mapped more than 1,000 types of odor-detecting receptors in the mouse nose, revealing an organized pattern not previously recognized. Two independent teams led by Harvard University and Harvard Medical School carried out the study, which was published in the journal Cell on April 28, 2026.
The research teams combined single-cell RNA sequencing, which identifies gene expression in individual cells, with spatial transcriptomics, mapping the location and orientation of receptors within tissue. This allowed the study of millions of smell-related neurons from hundreds of mice in three-dimensional space.
Contrary to earlier beliefs that odor-detecting neurons were randomly distributed in broad nasal zones, the analysis showed that neurons expressing similar odor receptors are arranged in tight horizontal stripes. This spatial organization improves understanding of how odor signals are detected and transmitted to the brain.
The sense of smell is crucial for behaviors and health in animals, including food selection, danger detection, and social interactions. This new receptor map could lead to improved therapies for those who have lost their sense of smell.