Replication Of Human Pheromones :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Sexual Or prejudiced? Replication Of Human Pheromones From the elixer in Love Potion Number Nine to the Orgasmatron in Orgazmo, the media reflect a popular fascination with the appraisal of an object that piece of ass control other peoples sexual desires and behaviors. On a similar unless dorkier note, I have occasionally heard at Haverford someone assign a sexual lucky streak to the influence of pheromones. In our well-read but socially awkward mind frame, we have hit on a more promising possibility than magic potions or radiolocation guns. From the Greek for excitement carrier, pheromones carry chemical messages between members of the resembling species (2). Present in many animals and often responsible for aspects of mating behavior, the idea of pheromones in valet de chambres has in recent years been a melodic theme of interest. The idea of pheromone perception as a sixth sense is intriguing, as it means our behavior is influenced by input from outside stimuli that we ca nnot consciously perceive. leaven points to the output by and influence on tender-hearteds of natural pheromones, and these pheromones be under attempt at imitation by commercial products. What argon the possible ramifications of such developments? Experimental evidence also shows differences in the agency men and women respond to pheromones, and the possible implications of these differences on gender roles is the aspect of military man pheromone research that interests me some. These chemical signals ar detected in the vomero wasted organ, or VNO, which is point in the noses of most species of vertebrates. In other mammals, the VNO is located in a longitudinal bulge at the base of either side of the nasal septum (4). Humans lack this bulge marking the position of the VNO, and although there are nerve bundles running from the human VNO to the brain, it is still unclear whether they contain actual sensory neurons or just autonomic nerves. Unlike that in animals, the human V NO does not have an obvious sensory epithelium however, it contains cells that are considered to be bipolar receptor neurons. The human VNO is thought to be stimulated by airborne chemicals, as opposed to stimuli dissolved in mucus (3). Although most exploration of the possibilities of human pheromone perception has happened recently, scientists have known about the human VNO since 1703, when Dutch surgeon Roysch disc everywhereed it in the nose (2). Since then the VNO has been ordinarily thought to be present only in fetuses, disappearing over the course of prenatal development.