Dogs' highly sensitive olfactory systems may enable them to detect specific diseases. Research suggests that dogs can be trained to identify cancerous tumors and dangerous fluctuations in blood glucose levels through scent alone.

Canine Olfaction in Medical Detection

The difference in olfactory capabilities between species can be attributed to genetics. For example, dogs possess a much larger set of functional genes for olfactory receptors, with 800 to 1200, compared to the fewer than 400 found in humans and other primates, which likely accounts for their superior sense of smell.

Genetic Basis for Olfactory Sensitivity Differences

The effectiveness of the olfactory system varies significantly from one species to another. For instance, dogs are widely recognized for having a sense of smell that is far more developed and sensitive than that of humans.

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Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

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