Wedekind : Pheromones and Evolution (BIO)

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Last updated 8:23 PM on 5/4/26
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Aim :Wedekind

Investigating if scent is linked to the gene MHC (immune system) affects attraction.

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Sample::Wedekind

94 undergraduate students of a Swiss University

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Procedure ::Wedekind

Men were asked to wear a t-shirt for 2 nights and avoid scent changers and deodorant. 

After 2 days, the women smelled 7 shirts. 3 of them were from men with similar MHC genes to them, 3 shirts were from dissimilar MHC genes and 1 was unworn used as a control. Thy rated the smell based on attractiveness and pleasantness.


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Results : Wedekind

Women preferred the scent of men with different MHC genes from them

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Connection to Pheromones::Wedekind

These results support the idea that humans may use pheromone-like signals in attraction as the scent of sweat carries information about a person's genes which influences perceived attractiveness. This suggests that humans unconsciously detect biological signals through scent. 


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Connection to Evolution:Wedekind

These results also supports the sexual selection (intersex selection) which would argue that the women are more attracted to different MHC scent because mates with differing MHC genes can produce offspring with a stronger immune system as MHC relates to the immune system and 2 parents with different MHC genes can create an offspring with the capability of a wider range of immune defenses.

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Strengths::Wedekind

Highly controlled study - high internal validity 

Double blind study - The researchers and participants didn't know which shirts were which which eliminated biases such as researcher and participant bias.


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Limitations: Wedekind

Low ecological validity due to the artificial task of smelling the shirts. 

Reductionist. 

Low generalizability as the sample was Swiss University students

Diet and lifestyle may affect scent so it may not be a true indicator of the gene itself


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Shortcut

Wedekind shirt smelling (DJ. KHALED WE THE BEST MUSIC)

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Def: Pheromone

Pheromones are chemical signals that may influence social or reproductive behavior, such as attraction or mate choice.