Mosquito bites might be foretold in genes

Whether a mosquito finds you tasty might be coded in your genes.

Plenty of factors could drive a mosquito’s desire to bite: its prey’s diet, body temperature, pregnancy or even body odor. Genes partially control a person’s unique odor, so researchers used data from 19 sets of female fraternal twins and 18 sets of identical twins to see whether chemicals in a person’s aroma might make them more attractive to Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

When given the option, the bloodsuckers showed a greater difference in preference between fraternal twin odors than those of identical twins. Because the latter share the same genes, being tastier to mosquitoes could be an inherited trait — at least where body odor is concerned, the researchers conclude April 22 in PLOS ONE.