59 there's more to the nose than meets the eye. This is a last minute, totally last minute, arrangement based upon the recent observation that Dr. Stuart Firestein will be in town. Dr. Firestein's work involves elucidating the molecular mechanisms of smell.  This is fascinating work, and this is a really great opportunity for us to read interesting science with a really interesting scientist.   http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/faculty/firestein/index.html  is where you can find out more about Dr. Firestein's lab   Pressing questions?  Here is his email address: sjf24@columbia.edu     Papers we will read for thursday, think about, and write about:   Paper number 1 This is a classic, indeed it is the basis for this year's Nobel prize.   Paper number 2 So how do you figure out what an olfactory receptor, or putative receptor, actually does?  Here's an elegant mouse paper that shows us a entirely new view of the receptor. Paper number 3 Can we apply the rules of pharmacology to our understanding of olfactory receptors? Here's a recent paper from the Firestein lab that tries to do exactly that.  You be the judge. Papers you might want to read at some point in your career. A nice review written by Dr. Firestein Another paper from the Firestein lab This is an example of mouse making at it's most complex and elegant.   It provides us with new insights in olfactory signaling, and it's worth reading to be sure.  But it's tough going. An early, viral transduction paper, from the Firestein laboratory.