Sunday, 28 October 2007

biochemistry - Do humans have chemosensors for nutrients or chemicals?

I'm reading about chemoreceptors on Wikipedia, and see that the typical ones are mentioned: taste, smell, CO₂. I would like to learn more about the other kinds of chemoreceptors that humans may possess. I'm particularly interested if these can detect chemical compounds, or lack of thereof in food.



Here's an example:
Do omnivore mammals vary food preferences based on dietary needs?




There's "rapid recognition of Indispensible Amino Acid(IAA) depletion in the rat brain's IAA chemosensor, the anterior piriform cortex (APC)"




Reading the article above, it appears that at least rats and birds can develop aversion to food that does not contain indispensable amino acids. This is done through chemosensors in the brain. Do humans possess any similar chemosensors?



Thank you for your input!

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