Genetic and functional odorant receptor variation in the Homo lineage

Humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans independently adapted to a wide range of geographic environments and their associated food odors. Using ancient DNA sequences, we explored the in vitro function of thirty odorant receptor genes in the genus Homo. Our extinct relatives had highly conserved olfactory receptor sequence, but humans did not. Variations in odorant receptor protein sequence and structure may have produced variation in odor detection and perception. Variants led to minimal changes in specificity but had more influence on functional sensitivity. The few Neanderthal variants disturbed function, whereas Denisovan variants increased sensitivity to sweet and sulfur odors. Geographic adaptations may have produced greater functional variation in our lineage, increasing our olfactory repertoire and expanding our adaptive capacity. Our survey of olfactory genes and odorant receptors suggests that our genus has a shared repertoire with possible local ecological adaptations. [Display omitted] •Neanderthal and Denisovan ORs vary less than human ORs but our repertoires are similar•OR variation may have helped humans adapt to new environments•There are limited functional differences in odor specificity across lineages•Neanderthals are less sensitive to odors than humans, and Denisovans more sensitive Anthropology; Archaeology; Evolutionary biology; Molecular biology