Genetic Deodorant
By Jef Akst | January 18, 2013
People carrying a certain gene variant that dictates fresh underarms are less likely to wear antiperspirant.
Excerpt: “An interesting aside: there is ethnic diversity at the rs17822931 locus, with east Asians tending to have a higher than average frequency of allele A.”
My comment: This “ethnic diversity” would be discussed in the context of pheromone production if found in any other species. See, for example, A Functional ABCC11 Allele Is Essential in the Biochemical Formation of Human Axillary Odor and A strong association between human earwax-type and apocrine colostrum secretion from the mammary gland. Apocrine gland secretions are involved in the production of human pheromones/human axillary odor, and also the odor infant mammals associate with their mother before any other associations are made with visual, auditory, or tactile input. The response to her odor is innate, and it allows for learned associations with visual, auditory, and tactile input. We discussed ethnic differences in our 1995/2002 book — as indicated below.
My comment to The Scientist:
Precis The Scent of Eros: Mysteries of Odor in Human Sexuality (1995/2002).
Pages 42-43 and 160-162 of the book detail what was known about ethnic diversity and odor production in the context of apocrine glands, sex differences, and ethnic differences in hormone production, and human pheromone production.
This new report brings to bear more than just the “…potential application of personalized genetics in personal hygiene.” What’s been detailed is the epigenetic effects of nutrient chemicals and nutrient-dependent pheromone-controlled reproduction in species from microbes to man. For example: “Olfaction and odor receptors provide a clear evolutionary trail that can be followed from unicellular organisms to insects to humans.” Thus, it’s not just about personal hygiene or pheromone-enhanced fragrance products anymore. And for some of us, it never was. See for example: Human pheromones: integrating neuroendocrinology and ethology.
