What's That Smell? (Part Four)

One last word on scents (for now), and it involves what we could call: Scent-prints.

Not to get All Technical on you, but I find this fascinating. This knowledge might even win you something on a game show. I don't write a lot of Sci-Fi, but if I did, I'd be all over this concept.

Every biological feature of your body has an unseen, genetic manifestation (the genotype), and an outward, physical manifestation (the phenotype).  If you have brown, curly hair, then you have the invisible code for it (genotype) and the visible manifestation of that code (the hair itself--the phenotype).

Our immune systems are no exception.

A string of over 50 genes, along a single chromosome, contains the programming for our immune systems, and this cluster is called the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). The really cool thing is, MHC genes are the most unique biological code we know. Identical twins excepted, no one shares their MHC pattern with anyone else on the planet...now or ever.

So the MHC is the invisible set of instructions for your immune system (genotype). Guess what the outward manifestation (phenotype) is?

Your body scent.

Yep. True story. You have a body scent shared by no one. Ever. (Unless you have an identical twin hanging 'round someplace).

Your particular scent is unique to you. And it is the scent of your immune system. (Now that you know this, amaze your friends at your next party.  "Does my immune system smell off to you?")

Here's another interesting factoid: Opposites do attract. In studies, researchers have found that people are more attracted to potential romantic partners that display different MHC-prints from our own. The psychology of attraction is closely linked to the sense of smell, and we tend not to be drawn (romantically) towards close relatives. Biologically, it's because they don't smell differently enough from ourselves to activate attraction.

What families do share, based on similar MHC-prints, is comfort smelling. Mmm...you smell like one of my clan. You smell safe.

For writers:

a) If you write Sci-Fi, use this. It's a big concept, and in the future it will move beyond Science Fiction and become Science Fact. Since each MHC code is unique, it will play a role in detection, security procedures, genetic manipulation, etc. Lots of story ideas there.... Please send royalties.

b) Both men and women report being drawn to items (clothing, in particular) that have the scent-print of their beloveds on them. E.g., sleeping with a husband's shirt when he is away. A nice little detail you might be able to work into a story sometime.

What are your ideas for using personal scents in stories?

reference: The Scent of Desire, by Rachel Herz; 2007 (William Morrow)