Asian and non-Asian ears produce different types of earwax according to scientists at the Monell Institute in Philadelphia. Chromosome 16 is home to the “wet” or “dry” gene for earwax – with the wet variant dominating.

 

A small change in the gene ABCC11 is related to both the dry-type earwax and also for reduced underarm body odour found in Chinese, Japanese and Korean individuals.

The American study measured the concentration of 12 volatile organic compounds found in earwax – in groups of East Asian and white men.

In 11 out of the 12 compounds the Caucasian earwax had greater amounts of odorous compounds.

via BBC News – Secretion secrets: things you didn’t know about ear wax.

And now you know.