Post on 02-Jan-2016
description
Pheromones draw pairs of same species together
Mice pheromones attract male and female with different MHC
‘Major Histocompatibility Complex’Plays important role in immune system and
autoimmunityBeneficial: produce offspring with strong
immune system
Swiss zoologist Claus Wedekind set up first experiment
Recruited volunteers: 49 college women, 44 college men
Wide range of MHC genesConducted at Bern University, Switzerland
Asked men to wear a clean t-shirt for 2 days straight
Odourless soap and aftershaveAsked to remain odour neutralSweaty t-shirt returned after two daysPut into smell box with holes, one clean t-
shirt as control Women asked to sniff boxes, rated them