Category: Traits

Why are some people more prone to sensing bitter tastes? Taste buds are covered with tiny molecular sensors, called “taste receptors,” that specialize in detecting the five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (a savory, meat-like taste). The types of taste receptors you have determine what tastes you can, or cannot, detect in…

How it works Ever noticed your urine smells different after eating asparagus? You’re not the only one. The genetic link  23andMe researchers identified a genetic marker located near the OR2M7 gene that is associated with the likelihood of smelling asparagus-related odor in their urine. This gene has instructions for a protein that detects odor molecules. …

How it works The “smiling muscle” connects each cheekbone with the corners of the mouth. Some people have an extra smiling muscle in their cheeks, which can cause dimples to appear when they smile. The genetic link People used to think dimples came from a single, dominant gene inherited from a parent. Now, researchers know…

How it works Scientists are still uncovering critical information about balding patterns and several studies indicate that testosterone plays an important role. But baldness doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has unusually high or low levels of testosterone; rather, it suggests that the person’s hair follicles respond differently to this hormone. The genetic link 23andMe researchers…

How it works Our hair follicles produce one hair at a time. As hair cells grow from the bottom of the follicle, proteins like keratin help connect and build the cells to form a strand. The genetic link 23andMe researchers found 17 genetic variants that are associated with back hair. But scientists are still investigating…

How it works Let’s say you’re driving and your favorite song comes on the radio. You hear the opening notes and sing along. It may seem simple, but matching a musical pitch is actually quite complicated. After you hear a note, your brain identifies (or attempts to identify) the pitch and decides which vocal muscles…

How it works Dandruff is a common skin condition characterized by flaking of the skin on the scalp. The genetic link Scientists at 23andMe identified 487 genetic markers that are associated with dandruff. In addition to genetics, other factors like age, sex, and ancestry can also influence your chances of getting dandruff. For example, among…

How it works Scientists don’t know why people have earlobes, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to understand which factors impact earlobe shape. The genetic link Hopefully everything you learned in science class didn’t go in one ear and out the other. But when it comes to earlobe type, it might be okay if…

How early hair loss works We’re born with five million hair follicles, and about 100,000 to 150,000 of them are on the scalp. As we age, our hair follicles typically shrink in size, produce thinner hairs and eventually stop producing hair altogether. The genetic link The timing and rate of hair follicles becoming thinner or…