用嗅觉去感受世界——2004年诺贝尔生理学或医学奖成果简介

PERCEIVING THE WORLD WITH SMELL——INTRODUCTION OF ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE 2004

嗅觉系统对我们的生活非常重要,人类和其它哺乳动物利用嗅觉系统可以识别环境中巨大数量的化学物质。嗅觉是如何产生的?为解开这个难题,美国两位科学家阿克塞尔和巴克从编码气味受体的基因入手,发现了识别气味分子的受体,并且证明了嗅觉系统的组织方式,从而告诉世界我们是如何感受气味的。为表彰两人的贡献, Karolinska 医学院诺贝尔奖评审委员会决定授予他们 2004 年诺贝尔生理学或医学奖。介绍了两位科学家是如何破解这个难题的。

The olfactory system is important for our quality of life. Humans and other mammals can detect a vast number and variety of environmental chemicals. How does the olfactory system work? To address this question, two American scientists began their research with genes coding olfactory receptor and found the receptors. Moreover, they uncovered the organization of the olfactory system. In 2004, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute has awarded them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their outstanding contributions. It was introduced in detail how they uncovered this big problem.