Do you always get bitten by mosquitoes?
Blame your parents: Being attractive to bugs is genetic, scientists say
If you frequently find yourself covered in mosquito bites, while others escape without so much as an itch, you can blame your genes. For British scientists have discovered evidence that some people are simply born to attract mosquitoes.
In experiments they found that people's body smell attracted the insects in different ways - and this was strongly influences by genetics.
The team, led by scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, found that pairs of identical twins - who share 100 per cent of their genes - are equally attractive to mosquitoes.
Non-identical twins, who only share about 50 per cent of their genes, differ in the degree to which they attract the bugs, the scientists found.
The research, published in the journal PLOS One, provides strong evidence that your chance of being bitten is genetically-driven.
The results show that the trait has a similar link to genes as height and IQ.
The findings build on previous work linking body odour to the chances of being attacked by mosquitoes.
The team - which also included scientists from Nottingham University, Rothamsted Research in Hertforshire, and the University of Florida - think that some individuals produce a natural insect repellent that keeps them safe.
They believe that, with further research, it may be possible to take a pill that encourages the production of this repellent odour.
Lead scientist Dr James Logan, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: 'By investigating the genetic mechanism behind attractiveness to biting insects such as mosquitoes we can move closer to using this knowledge for better ways of keeping us safe from bites and the diseases insects can spread through bites.
'If we understand the genetic basis for variation between indi- viduals it could be possible to develop bespoke ways to control mosquitoes better, and develop new ways to repel them.
'In the future we may even be able to take a pill which will enhance the production of natural repellents by the body and ultimately replace skin lotions.'
The study involved 18 identical and 19 non-identical twin pairs.
In the experiment, Aedies aegypti mosquitoes - which transmit dengue fever - were released into a Y-shaped tube which divides into two sections.
They were allowed to fly down either side towards the odour from the study participants' hands to see which twin they were most attracted to.