Do Mosquitoes Like You? Your Genes May Be to Blame
Do Mosquitoes Like You? Your Genes May Be to Blame – Some of us seem to attract more mosquitoes than others and are also more allergic to their bites. Researchers say this is because of our genes.
Studies have shown that what attracts mosquitoes to us is the scent of our skin, and now this new study attributes the scent to genes. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine did a pilot study to test this hypothesis. For the study, the selected 18 sets of identical female twins and 19 sets of non-identical female twins, and asked them to stick their hands in plexiglass tube filled with mosquitoes. The level of attractiveness to mosquitoes was similar in the case of identical twins, but different in non-identical twins.
Researchers conclude that what makes people attractive to mosquitoes is controlled by their genes. They say that identifying these genes could help us develop new mosquito repellents and better strategies to protect people against mosquito bites, which can cause diseases like malaria and chikungunya.
Category: News
