Wrong in a genetic sense, that is. We are best paired, for reproductive purposes at least, with people who have different MHC than we do. MHC are markers on our cells that make each one of us unique, they are the things that cause trouble when people get organ transplants, they are the things that make one person smell good to us (pheromones) when another person stinks. That stink is telling us something more than just hygiene. That stink is telling us genetics. And now new research shows that woman on birth control pills and also pregnant women have compromised sniffers. If only I could blame my misspent youth on this.
Here's the original paper, from 1995:
http://journals.royalsociety.org/content/eg93h541912m44g0/The Pill makes women pick bad mates
Ability to sniff out a compatible partner affected by taking contraceptives
By Jeanna Bryner
updated 10:17 a.m. PT, Wed., Aug. 13, 2008
from:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26180187/( text )
