Final answer:
The claim that human scent signatures are not species-specific is false. Humans can discriminate a vast amount of odors, but we share species-specific characteristics in our scent. The number of olfactory receptors and their types plays a critical role in our ability to distinguish different smells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the scent signature of human beings is not species-specific and only exists as unique to each individual is false. Scent signatures are largely species-specific, but there is considerable individual variation within a species, including humans. In humans, the olfactory system can discriminate a vast number of unique odorant molecules, estimated at around 1.72 trillion. It's important to note that while individuals may have their own 'scent', it is not entirely unique to the extent that it is not species-specific.
Humans have about 350 olfactory receptor subtypes that work in combinations, enabling us to sense approximately 10,000 different odors. This is fewer than some animals, such as mice, which have around 1,300 olfactory receptor types. Olfactory receptors, distributed among hundreds of different receptor types, respond to different odors and send impulses directly to the olfactory bulb of the brain.
Pheromones differ from other odorants in that they are chemical signals specifically evolved to communicate between members of the same species, influencing behavior and physiological processes.