Expert: Walter Hintz - 12/9/2007

Question
Hi,
Thank you so much for helping me with my project! I know you must be busy and am pleased that you will be able to help.
Here is the list of questions:
1. What is your job title/position?
2. What are your job responsibilities?
3. How does your position relate to my topic of how smell affects taste?
4. What type of education is necessary for a position in this field?
5. Do you think scientific research is important? Why or why not?
6. What types of substance that are smelled greatly affect or alter the taste? Why?
7. How do bacterial and viral diseases such as a sinus infection change  the way different foods taste?
8. How are the nasal passages and taste buds interconnected or related? (What importance do they have to each other?)
9. Is it actually possible to smell something and know how it tastes?
10. If the nasal passage is blocked, is the taste of a substance really cut off? Why? (Ex, plugging your nose when taking cough syrup)
Sorry that the beginning questions are tedious! They are requirements. Again, thank you very much for helping me with this! It is greatly appreciated!
Thanks very much for your time. Sincerely,
Lauren Tindal

Answer
Hi lauren
 1.I am a college biology teacher
 2.I teach biology classes
 3. My classes involve some physiology which includes human senses
 4.Advanced degrees in biology are required
 5.Without scientific research we would be in the stone age.
 6.Smell does not alter taste.  We  only have four tastes, : sweet ,sour,bitter and salty.  Taste and smell together gives use flavor and there are thousands of flavors. We usually acquaint the term taste with flavor.
7.Infections block our ability to smell which limits flavors
8.Refer to my answer regarding the combination of taste and smell.
9.No
10. If the nasal passage is blocked taste is still there but flavor is lost.

 What is the project again.  I get many questions and could not find out your previous questions.