The Earwax Gene

In humans, there are two earwax types—wet and dry. While nearly 97% of people in Africa and Europe have wet earwax, that number drops to half in places like central Asia and southern Asia. Researches in Japan have found that this is likely due to genetics. There is one gene in DNA that is said to determine whether a person has wet earwax or dry earwax. Researchers believe that the wet form of earwax has been around longer, as it is routed in Africa. Dry earwax was found collectively amongst those in southern Asia. The gene that affects earwax is known as the ATP-binding cassette C11 gene, and there are some theories that suggest a correlation between earwax type and body odor. People who have two A (adenine) versions of the gene have dry earwax, while people who carry two G (guanine) versions of the gene, or one of each, have wet earwax.