Abstract
THREE quite different theories of odour discrimination are in favour at present. The ‘site filling theory’ of Amoore1 relates molecular shapes to odour types and identifies some classifications as primary. The penetration and puncture theory of Davies2 develops a physical model for impulse transmission. The key physical properties involved are the molecular size and the adsorption coefficient between air and a lipid–water interface. Wright3 has correlated vibrational frequencies in the far infrared with the quality of odour.
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References
Amoore, J. E., Molecular Basis of Odour (Charles C. Thomas Co., Springfield, Illinois (1970).
Davies, J. T., J. theor. Biol., 8, 1 (1965).
Wright, R. H., Nature, 209, 571 (1966).
Kauzmann, W., Kinetic Theory of Gases, 88–90 (Benjamin, New York, 1966).
Laffort, P., and Dravnieks, A., J. theor. Biol., 38, 335 (1973).
Randebrock, R. E., Nature, 219, 503 (1968).
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MAZZIOTTI, A. Intermolecular basis of odour. Nature 250, 645–646 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250645a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250645a0
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