How we smell is not just a matter of taste – it’s also influenced by our genes. An international team of researchers led by scientists from Leipzig University has conducted the largest genetic study to date on the human sense of smell. Researchers at the Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE) identified seven new genetic regions associated with our ability to perceive odours. In the long term, the findings could help improve understanding of olfactory disorders and enable earlier detection of diseases.