Chemosensory behavior: the path from stimulus to response

In the past year, candidates have been identified for two long sought class es of molecules, insect odorant receptors and mammalian taste receptors. In addition, genes directing receptor gene expression and the development of specific chemosensory neurons have been described in Drosophila melanogaste r and Caenorhabditis elegans. Finally, recent physiological experiments hav e provided new insights into the mechanisms by which chemosensory informati on is processed.