The Nose Knows– The Science of Pheromones, Gayumas and the Chemistry of ‘Love’

Bakit ang mga fruit flies na ito ay nagsiksikan sa bote ng coke eh alam naman nila na nakakamatay ang stampede? Kasi ang bottle ay may isang patak ng methyl eugenol , isang Pheromone or gayuma ng mga flies. Kaya wala sila sa matinong isip dahil neurotoxin ang isang Pheromone. Isang patak ng methyl eugenol ay nakaka attract ng mga fruit flies ng isang kilometro na radius. Pheromones are fascinating chemical signals used by various organisms to communicate with members of the same species. They play a crucial role in behaviors such as mating, territorial marking, and social organization.

Minsan mag tataka tayo bakit may mga taong likas na magaan ang ating pakikisama , meron namang kahit mabait sa atin ay medyo “mabigat” at meron tayong agression. THE NOSE KNOWS.

Tayo ay nag se-secrete ng Pheromones and dine-disperse ito ng ating mga buhok sa underarms. Actually yan ang silbi ng mga buhok sa kilkili– to disperse the Pheromones.

Iba-iba ang klase ng Pheromones:

Sex Pheromones: These attract individuals of the opposite sex for mating purposes.

Aggregation Pheromones: These attract members of the same species to a common location.

Alarm Pheromones: These warn other individuals of potential danger or threats.

Territorial Pheromones: These mark territory boundaries and convey ownership.

Trail Pheromones: These help organisms navigate by marking paths for others to follow.

In mammals, including humans, pheromones are involved in various social behaviors. While the role of pheromones in humans is still debated, studies suggest that certain chemicals, such as androstadienone and estratetraenol, may influence mood and social interactions.

Nung hindi pa naimbento ang mga sabon, perfumes, deodorants , it is the Pheromones that mostly dictate the choice of marital partners.

Nature ang nag de -decide kung sino ang compatible sa iyo. Kasi kung same kayo ng Pheromone type, chances are mas compatible kayo , in the first place, magaan ang loob nyo sa isat isa kasi you are being intoxicated by his/ her Pheromones which are similar to yours.

Nowadays with the use of cosmetics and soaps, the natural Pheromones are washed away , or masked by Pheromone -like chemicals in perfumes, etc. Actually, it is common now to add Pheromones in perfumes to produce the ” Axe Effect” Parang yung sa advertisement ng deo spray na ” Axe.”

Para sa akin hindi ito maganda kasi you are fooling the opposite sex and since hindi ito ang natural mo, ay malamang hindi kayo magtatagal .

Dapat hayaan na lang ang natural na Pheromones ang magdecide– para sa mga marriages made in heaven “ .

Pheromone molecules bind to specific receptor proteins located on the surface of sensory cells. These receptors are often G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) or ligand-gated ion channels. The binding of the pheromone to its receptor initiates a signal transduction cascade. Upon receptor binding, a series of intracellular signaling events are triggered.

This may involve the activation of second messenger systems, such as cyclic AMP (cAMP) or calcium ions, leading to changes in the electrical properties of the sensory cell. The signal generated by the sensory cell is then transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS) via neural pathways.

In vertebrates, the information is often relayed to specific brain regions associated with processing pheromonal cues, such as the accessory olfactory bulb.

Finally, the CNS integrates the pheromonal information with other sensory inputs and triggers appropriate behavioral responses. These responses can range from mating behaviors to aggression or avoidance, depending on the context and species.

So now naintindihan na natin na ang “LOVE” ay isang chemical reaction lamang? Isang intoxication ng CNS. Na eexplain din kung bakit may mga tao tayo na kasundo agad, at meron ding mabigat ang loob. The Nose knows.

(Note: the author is a senior researcher of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)