These data support the conclusion that earwax is one-locus, two-allele trait, with the
W allele
being dominant.
How is earwax type inherited?
You and your parents likely share the same wet or dry types of earwax because you
both share the same ABCC11 gene sequence through heredity
.
Are waxy ears hereditary?
Wet earwax is a hereditary trait that results in honey-coloured and waxy cerumen.
What type of mutation is dry earwax?
The
homozygous recessive AA genotype
produces the dry ear wax phenotype (dry and flaky) and mildly odored sweat.
What are the two alleles for ear wax?
There are two types of human earwax (cerumen) produced as a secretion of the apocrine glands. The earwax phenotypes are inherited through two alleles at a single autosomal locus, namely
the dominant wet allele and the recessive dry allele
.
What race has ABCC11 gene?
Today
most East Asians
and nearly all Koreans lack a chemical in their armpits that bacteria munch on to make body odor, because they carry this variant of the ABCC11 gene. About 98 percent of Europeans have the smelly-armpit version of the gene, and along with it comes stickier and smellier earwax.
Why is my earwax wet in the morning?
Your ears feel wet
because they are making more wax
. It really is that simple. Ear wax (properly referred to as cerumen) is a sticky substance that serves as a skin conditioner, dust catcher, insect repellent, and has pretty impressive anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.
Why do I have wet ear wax?
Wet ears typically mean disease,
most likely infection
. Ear infections create pus, so that might be why your ear feels wet. That is not the only possible cause, though. It is also possible that you have a type of skin growth inside your ear canal called a cholesteatoma.
Is Wet ear wax a dominant trait?
Earwax type: The myth
Some people have earwax that is wet, sticky and yellow or brown; other people’s earwax is dry, crumbly and grayish. Variation at a single gene determines which kind of earwax you have;
the allele for wet earwax is dominant over the allele for
dry earwax.
Who has dry ear wax?
A new study reveals that the gene responsible for the drier type originated in an ancient northeastern Asian population. Today,
80 to 95 percent of East Asians
have dry earwax, whereas the wet variety is abundant in people of African and European ancestry (97 to 100 percent).
What does dark brown ear wax mean?
Dark brown or black colored earwax is typically older, so
its color comes from the dirt and bacteria it has trapped
. Adults tend to have darker, harder earwax. Dark brown earwax that is tinged with red may signal a bleeding injury. Light brown, orange or yellow earwax is healthy and normal.
What does wet ear wax look like?
Earwax is most often
amber orange to light brown, wet, and sticky
. For some people, it is drier and lighter in color, closer to off white or yellow. In general, the color has a bit to do with the age of the earwax. Newer earwax tends to be lighter in color, and it darkens as it ages and picks up more debris.
Why is my earwax wet and smelly?
When your earwax smells terrible, pay attention because it most likely indicates a
severe infection
. Anaerobic bacteria, that means the organism doesn’t require oxygen to thrive, tend to emit a foul odor that can make earwax smell bad. A bad smell can also mean an infection is causing middle ear damage.
Which ethnicity has the most body odor?
Although there is some controversy on the subject of “racial” variation in body odor, it is determined that
African blacks
probably produce the greatest amount of apocrine sweat, which is the known substrate for axillary odor.
What causes the feeling of something crawling in your ear?
The external ear and the outer side of the eardrum have several cranial nerves that relay information to the brain. A foreign object, such as a
bug
, can irritate these nerves. The insect might still be alive and may be crawling or buzzing, which could cause odd sensations in the ear.
Why does it feel like something is tickling the inside of my ear?
Tickling, itching, and tingling are all common symptoms that can occur in ears. A tickling feeling in the ear
may signal a condition, such as Eustachian tube dysfunction
. Rarely, it may also mean that a bug has gotten inside of your ear.
