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DISTINGUISHING ODOR

On a molecular level, mice respond to chemical cues from other mice differently than they do to cues from other species, especially potential predators. In the vomeronasal organ, cells with specific sensor molecules (red) detect an odor molecule and switch on (green) in response. The pattern of a female mouse reacting to a male mouse (above left) looks distinct from a female mouse responding to an owl or a ferret, suggesting a way to distinguish between threats. Credit: Y. Isogai et al/Nature 2011

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