Friday, January 20, 2012

What Is Geosmin

By Marco Alva


This aromatic smell is the way warm earth smells like after a light rainshower. This aromatic scent is very prominent when the ground gets wet. Geosmin, which refers to the organic volatile compound, produces the sweet odor of fresh earth is found to be produced by a particular enzyme. Geosmin is made up of proteins acted upon by enzymes. This was scientifically discovered over 100 years ago by a team of experts. The blue-green algae found in water produce this and actinobacteria produce them in soil. This is said to be emitted when the microbes die. Geosmin is used in DNA extraction which is a significant tool used in genome mapping and forensic investigations.

Pungent Smell on Water and Food Geosmin is responsible for the off-tasting water from faucets. Geosmin doesn't give off that muddy smell when the sample is acidic. This is why seafood must be soaked in vinegar first to remove the muddy taste.

Geosmin is responsible for the strong smell in the air after a gush of rain over warm soil. Geosmin is responsible for most commonly pungent-smelling food like fish, cured meat, beets and other root crops, etc. Humans are particularly bothered by the smell of geosmin in water and in other food stuff. Eliminating geosmin on water has become a separate industry in itself as shown by water purifying kits and stations.

Geosmin Composition Prior to knowing anything about geosmin, it was an enigmatic substance and scientists raced to find what caused the smell on a wet piece of earth, until they found out about Streptomyces coelicolor. These bacteria are plant-eating and are found in soil. Geosmin synthesis have two steps and this is due to the fact that the structure of geosmin consists of two connected parts. The first part is responsible for releasing the chemical used to create geosmin and the second part is actually the one that creates geosmin. This happens because of a constant metabolic pattern.

Beating the Smell! If scientists learned about how geosmin releases the pungent smell in water, then they will find ways to block it from creating that offensive smell. Geosmin's taste must be eliminated but not the substance itself since it provides man more uses than will ever be known. Spare geosmin but eliminate the awful odor.




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