Genetic basis of olfactory deficits

The completion of the human genome sequencing has opened new opportunities to better understand complex biological systems. In this realm, the human sense of smell is an excellent example of how genome analysis provides new information on genome organization and on deficits. Before the advent of genomic tools, the understanding of this highly sophisticated sensory neuronal pathway has been rather sketchy. In this chapter we summarize the relevant progress made in the last decade, and highlight the initial elucidation of two classes of olfactory deficits and their possible underlying genetic mechanisms.