the Runaway Lab Book

Whilst one of the forms for the gene ALDH2, is rare amongst Europeans and Africans it is present in 30-50% of Chinese and Japanese. This variation is known to cause alcohol flush – i.e. face going bright red after drinking alcohol. On the other hand, 40-80% of the Chinese and Japanese population have the variant of ABCC11 that gives them odourless sweat. If you’re not sure if you have this lucky odourless sweat gene variant, check your ear wax type. If it is dry and flaky, then you are one of the lucky ones that might need less deodorant!

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Further reading:

ALDH2 and alcohol flush http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Rs671

ABCC11 and dry ear wax http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16444273

ABCC11 and body odour http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19710689