Re: So here it is...

[Marilyn Wegweiser <mdwegweiser@bsuvc.bsu.edu>]

At 5:21 PM +0000 01/19/2001, Ken Kinman wrote:
> David,
>     Keep in mind that the sense of "smell" is more or less just 
> another form of chemical detection (and closely related to the sense 
> of taste).

Hello,

On the concept of the importance of smell and taste, and its interdependency,

A person who has had a full laryngectomy, for instance, loses nearly 
all ability to smell anything, and likewise suffers a diminished 
ability to taste. One can perhaps always fall back on this premise 
though: If it tastes bad, don't eat it.


>     Don't sea turtles and salmon find their way "home" by a sort of 
> underwater equivalent of "smell"?
<SNIP>
>      Seems like it is all part of one long continuum, so I wouldn't 
> underestimate the ability of dinosaurs (or any tetrapod) to detect 
> "smells" or "chemicals" in their environment, in or out of the water.


Why do females wear perfume? To announce their arrival? Or to lay out 
a trail of bread crumbs? Olfactory sense are extremely important. 
Things at the epicenter of the scent don't always find it offensive. 
The skunk, is the biggest, baddest SOB in the forest. Just ask him.


Cheers,
Marilyn W.

--
                                =00=  =00=  =00=  =00=
                                Marilyn D. Wegweiser, Ph.D.
                                Assistant Professor of Geology
                                Department of Geology
                                Ball State University
                                Muncie, Indiana
                                mdwegweiser@bsu.edu
                                Office: 765-285-8268
                                FAX:    765-285-8265