Call it a genomic nosegay. Unlike a floral nosegay, which releases scents, the genomic nosegay—a 3D spatial arrangement of olfactory receptor genes—helps us recognize them. Varied 3D arrangements are so effective that they allow us to distinguish one trillion different scents even though we have just 400 dedicated olfactory receptor genes.

— Read more at Countless Scents ID’d by Varied 3D Arrangements of Relatively Few Genes at Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.