PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - de March, Claire A.
AU  - Matsunami, Hiroaki
AU  - Abe, Masashi
AU  - Cobb, Matthew
AU  - Hoover, Kara C.
TI  - Genetic and functional odorant receptor variation in the Homo lineage
AID  - 10.1101/2021.09.13.460146
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.09.13.460146
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/10/27/2021.09.13.460146.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/10/27/2021.09.13.460146.full
AB  - Using ancient DNA sequences, we explored the function of olfactory receptor genes in the genus Homo. Humans, Neandertals, and Denisovans independently adapted to a wide range of geographic environments and the odours produced by their food. Variations in their odorant receptor protein sequence and structure resulted in variation in detection and perception. Studying thirty olfactory receptor genes, we found our relatives showed highly conserved receptor structures, but Homo sapiens did not. Variants led to changes in sensitivity to some odors, but no change in specificity, indicating a common olfactory repertoire in our genus. Diversity of geographic adaptations in H. sapiens may have produced greater functional variation in our lineage, increasing our olfactory repertoire and expanding our adaptive capacity.One-Sentence Summary Using ancient DNA we studied the sense of smell in our extinct ancestors and in our relatives, Denisovans and NeanderthalsCompeting Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.