Researchers Reveal Unknown Facts About Human Noses

Human nose has several features that many are not aware of, a recent study reveals.

Morning Ticker reported that the said study could also provide explanation on the shape of the human nose.  Based on the study conducted by the University College London, nose shapes and sizes may differ depending on the individual. It mainly depends on various factors, some are mainly due to the environment. For instance, Europeans tend to have thinner noses for it to adapt to dry and cold environment.

The recent study also reveals that a bioelectric nose that can mimic human nose is capable of detecting bacteria present in water simply by smelling it. This sensor also has the capability to detect other microbes in water. It can also detect small amount of flavor even when it is mixed with contaminated water.

The smell industry could benefit from the said smelling device. However, it may raise medical implications since there are patients with diseases who may give off some smells.

According to Dr. Kaustubh Adhikari of the University College London Cell and Developmental Biology, "few studies have looked at how normal facial features develop and those that they have only looked at European populations.

He added that both environment and genes have roles in determining the variations and shapes of human noses. He shared that pointiness and shape play a role in regulating humidity and temperature of the air, as reported by CDA News.

Meanwhile, Professor Andres Ruiz-Linares, who is also from the University College London and is part of the research team, said identifying how human noses work can also help in understanding genetic disorders that involve facial abnormalities. "Identifying genes affecting nose shape provides us with new tools to examine this question, as well as the evolution of the face in other species," he added