Mosquitoes may be attracted to their prey because of their body odor, preliminary results of a scientific study suggest.
Researchers conducted this study on identical and non-identical twins.
Experts say these “interesting” results will now be further analyzed in larger-scale experiments.
Researchers have long been trying to figure out why some people are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes than others. Recent research suggests that mosquitoes are attracted to their prey by its scent.
This report suggests that relatives are bitten by mosquitoes in similar numbers.
British and American scientists wanted to know whether genes were involved in this process or not.
To test this theory, they studied 18 conjoined and 19 non-identical twins.
Each of the twins’ hands was sprayed with scented air through a tube, after which the mosquitoes were released and moved towards or away from the twins’ hands.
Twins with high genetic similarity had the same number of mosquitoes on both sides.
This suggests that the mosquitoes did not prefer the scent of one hand over the other.
In contrast, the results of the experiment on non-identical twins were very different.
The researchers say that this experiment shows that genes that control body odor are behind the bias in mosquitoes.
Their next step will be to find out which specific gene is responsible for this process.
Dr David Whitman, from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: ‘These findings are very exciting and the first time that genes have been implicated in this process. But mosquitoes are not only attracted to the smell, carbon dioxide also plays a role. ‘
“Further research will determine whether these findings are just as relevant outside the laboratory as other external factors may be important.”