Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Karen W. on 16/06/2009 05:54:30

Title: Do families share similar smelling genetically passed down pheremones?
Post by: Karen W. on 16/06/2009 05:54:30

If so could a person be Identified by his pheremones? Could families be tied together or identified by smell?

I was just wondering. Its probably a question that is stupid  to ask, but I am asking anyway!

Also can someone alter their own pheremone scent?

Title: Do families share similar smelling genetically passed down pheremones?
Post by: Bored chemist on 16/06/2009 20:13:46

Stranger things have happened.
This excerpt
"In 1995, Swiss biologist Claus Wedekind determined MHC-dissimilar mate selection tendencies in humans. In the experiment, a group of female college students smelled t-shirts that had been worn by male students for two nights, without deodorant, cologne or scented soaps. Overwhelmingly, the women preferred the odors of men with dissimilar MHCs to their own. "
 is from here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_histocompatibility_complex
It seems that, to some extent, body odour is inherited.

Title: Do families share similar smelling genetically passed down pheremones?
Post by: Karen W. on 16/06/2009 21:48:45

Interesting link.. thanks Bored... I just wondered about that and was also wondering if dogs could pick out family members by their scent...? I do not mean their own families or owners but other random families by the items placed in a group of clothing like the example?

Title: Do families share similar smelling genetically passed down pheremones?
Post by: Make it Lady on 16/06/2009 22:11:36

If I smell like my teenage son then I'm shooting myself!

Title: Do families share similar smelling genetically passed down pheremones?
Post by: Make it Lady on 16/06/2009 22:16:24

Seriously I think we do inherit odour but I also think that life circumstances will link family smells together such as shared detergents, shampoos, deoderants and diets. Diet has a big influence on our smell. Apparently most British people smell of dairy products. This is why different nationalities think that others are smelly!

Title: Do families share similar smelling genetically passed down pheremones?
Post by: Karen W. on 17/06/2009 22:33:58

You make a good point about our diet etc... that is interesting.