Bio : Pheromones & Evolution

Question 1

Researcher

Answer 1

wedekind

Question 2

Pheromone studied

Answer 2

MHC. Major Histocompatibility complex

Question 3

What is MHC

Answer 3

MHC is a collection of genes that play a key role in immune system.
It’s believed that the sense of SMELL in women is what causes them to detect the MHC gene in men and influences mate choices.

Question 4

Aim

Answer 4

Wedekind aimed to investigate if ones MHC gene would influence one’s mate choice as a result of evolutionary factors.

Question 5

DESCRIBE

Answer 5

Researchers recruited university men and women with varying MHC genes.
Men wore clean T-shirts for two nights following specific instructions to minimize external scents.
Women rated the pleasantness of different T-shirts from 7 boxes, 3 similar MHC 3 dissimilar.

Question 6

CONCLUSION

Answer 6

Women rated the T-shirts of men with dissimilar MHC genes as more pleasant smelling than those of similar MHC or control.
This suggests MHC genes might influence who women find attractive based on scent.
The study implies women may unconsciously pick up on MHC through pheromones.