OR2M7 rs4713916: Asparagus Odor Perception
rs4713916 is a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the OR2M7 olfactory receptor gene. It has a limited research association with whether a person can perceive pungent sulfur-containing metabolites in urine after eating asparagus.
What each genotype means
Likely asparagus odor detection
This genotype is associated with the ability to perceive the sulfurous odor of asparagus metabolites in urine. Research suggests that variants in the OR2M7 region influence olfactory receptor sensitivity, though individual perception can vary based on other genetic and environmental factors.
Carried by approximately 38% of individuals of European ancestry, based on the reported frequency of the associated allele.
Likely asparagus odor detection
This genotype is associated with the ability to perceive the sulfurous odor of asparagus metabolites in urine. Because the ability to detect this odor is often considered a dominant trait, carriers of this genotype are likely to notice the scent, though individual sensitivity remains variable.
Carried by approximately 38% of individuals of European ancestry, based on the reported frequency of the associated allele.
Potential asparagus anosmia
This genotype is associated with a higher likelihood of asparagus anosmia, which is the inability to detect the specific sulfurous odor produced after consuming asparagus. This is a common sensory variation and does not indicate a medical condition or health risk.
Carried by approximately 62% of individuals of European ancestry, based on the reported frequency of the associated allele.
What rs4713916 Is and Where It Sits
rs4713916 is a single-nucleotide polymorphism, or SNP, within the OR2M7 gene. A SNP is a one-letter difference in DNA: at a particular genomic position, people may carry different nucleotide letters. OR2M7 is located on chromosome 1, in a region containing many genes involved in sensory perception and olfaction. The variant is situated in a cluster of olfactory receptor genes, which help the nervous system detect chemical compounds in the environment. Because rs4713916 is within a protein-coding gene, researchers have considered whether different versions might influence the structure or activity of the resulting receptor. That possibility is a hypothesis rather than a confirmed explanation for the trait. A cataloged association does not show that this single SNP determines how someone smells asparagus metabolites. Instead, it identifies a statistical relationship observed in research participants and provides a starting point for investigating differences in human odor perception.
What the OR2M7 Gene Does
OR2M7 belongs to the large family of olfactory receptor genes. These genes encode receptor proteins expressed in the olfactory epithelium, the specialized tissue involved in detecting odors in the nose. Olfactory receptors interact with odorant molecules, and receptor activation contributes to signals that the brain interprets as smells. Humans carry many olfactory receptor genes, and these genes are diverse across individuals. That diversity is one reason people can experience the same odor as stronger, weaker, or qualitatively different. OR2M7 has been considered in research on the recognition of sulfur-containing compounds, which can have pungent or vegetable-like odors. However, the available information does not establish that OR2M7 alone controls perception of asparagus-related smells. The gene may be one part of a broader sensory system, and both genetic and non-genetic factors can contribute to differences in odor experience.
Research Linking the Variant to Asparagus Odor
After asparagus is eaten, metabolism produces sulfur-rich compounds that can be excreted in urine. Some people report a distinctive, pungent odor afterward, while others do not notice one. Research cataloged in association studies has linked rs4713916 with the ability to perceive this asparagus-related odor. The evidence is limited, however, so the finding should be treated as an observed population association rather than a definitive biological rule. Differences between people may reflect more than one process: some individuals may produce fewer odor-causing metabolites, while others may produce them but have difficulty detecting them. This distinction is sometimes described as differences in odor production, specific anosmia, or both. The current evidence does not fully establish the mechanism, the size of any genotype-related effect, or how much other genetic and environmental factors contribute. A result from this SNP therefore cannot reliably predict an individual's experience on its own.
How Common Is rs4713916?
The cataloged population-frequency note places the relevant allele frequency at approximately 0.38 in Europeans. Allele frequency describes how often an allele appears in a sampled population; it does not mean that 38% of people have a particular genotype, and it does not indicate that one genotype is healthier or better. Genotype frequencies depend on the allele frequency and on how alleles are distributed in the population being studied. Frequencies may also differ among people with different ancestral backgrounds. The available summary specifically highlights European frequency information and does not provide equally detailed estimates for every global population. For that reason, a frequency reported for Europeans should not automatically be applied to people of African, East Asian, South Asian, or other ancestry. Population databases such as gnomAD are useful for describing genetic variation in their samples, but they are not a guarantee that a consumer's testing population or family background will match those samples.
What You Can and Cannot Do With This Information
rs4713916 is associated with a sensory trait, not a diagnosed disease or established medical condition. A genotype result cannot change a person's DNA, and there is no stated medical treatment, medication, or dietary restriction linked to this variant. The result may offer an educational explanation for why someone notices or fails to notice a particular odor after eating asparagus, but it should not be used as a complete prediction of that experience. Direct-to-consumer testing may report this SNP, although testing results should be interpreted in the context of the test's methods and limitations. A perceived change in smell can have many possible explanations, and this single variant cannot determine the cause. Anyone concerned about a broader or persistent change in the sense of smell can discuss it with a healthcare professional or an otolaryngologist. For most people, however, asparagus odor perception is a normal example of variation in human sensory biology.
How common is this variant?
The catalog note reports an allele frequency of approximately 0.38 in Europeans. Frequencies may differ across ancestral groups, and the supplied evidence does not provide equally detailed estimates for all populations or definitive genotype frequencies.
Frequently asked questions
Why can some people smell asparagus in urine while others cannot?
After asparagus is eaten, sulfur-rich metabolites can be excreted in urine. Differences may reflect both whether a person produces the odor-causing compounds and whether their olfactory system can detect them; genetic variation such as rs4713916 may contribute.
Is being unable to smell asparagus urine a health problem?
Specific difficulty detecting this odor is generally described as a normal sensory variation rather than a disease. This SNP is associated with a sensory trait and has no stated clinical significance.
What does OR2M7 rs4713916 mean on a genetic test?
It indicates which allele pair was detected at a position in the OR2M7 olfactory receptor gene. The result may be related to asparagus odor perception, but the association is limited and cannot reliably predict what one person will smell.
Can my rs4713916 result tell me whether I should eat asparagus?
No. The variant concerns perception of asparagus-related urine odor and is not a basis for a dietary restriction. The information is educational and does not indicate a nutritional or medical problem.
Can this variant explain every difference in my sense of smell?
No. rs4713916 is one reported association involving a specific odor, and the evidence is limited. Other genetic factors, odor production, and environmental or personal factors may also influence smell perception.
Sources & further reading
Educational information only, last refreshed 9/22/2026. Not medical advice — these associations describe population statistics, not individual predictions.
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Variant influencing the ability to detect distinct scent metabolites in urine after consuming asparagus.
Strongly linked with the ability to smell methanethiol and other sulfurous metabolites in urine after asparagus consumption.
Variant in the olfactory receptor cluster linked to the specific anosmia or perception threshold of asparagus odorants in urine.
Variant in the olfactory receptor cluster strongly linked to the inability to smell the distinct odor of asparagus metabolites in urine (asparagus anosmia).