-
That means people are able to sniff out suitable MHC genomes in prospective partners.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
The correlation is with the genes of what is known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
Dr Milinski and Dr Wedekind also found an association between a woman's MHC genes and some of her preferences for perfume.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
The MHC is also thought to act as a proxy for general outbreeding, with all the hybrid vigour that can bring.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
You might, though, have better luck choosing for a close relation, because she would probably have an MHC similar to your own.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
Fortunately, then, evolution has equipped mammals with the ability to detect by smell chemicals whose concentrations vary with differences in the MHC of the producer.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
Perception of musk, rose and cardamom is correlated with the MHC.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
It turns out that one of the most important aspects of mate choice in mammals, humans included, is to make sure that your mate's MHC is different from your own.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
Women, it seems, choose not the kind of smell they would like on a partner, or even one that might mask a nasty odour of their own, but rather something that matches their MHC.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
If you have made a good genetic choice of partner (ie, someone with a significantly different MHC), then the theory suggests that you should not be able to choose something that smells nice to them based on your own preferences.
ECONOMIST: Perfume science
-
MHC, helps to determine body odour.
ECONOMIST: Cor, you don��t half smell