DNA mysteries
Surprising — but scientifically supported — genetic associations. Guess the answer first. Then we reveal the explanation and show the marker you can check in your own raw data file. Genetics suggests; it does not decide.
Pick a mystery
- Cilantro that tastes like soap — Why does about one in ten people think cilantro tastes like dish soap? Guess first — then genetics reveals what a variant near OR6A2 may suggest.
- The asparagus smell — Everyone who eats asparagus produces the same smell compounds in urine — but not everyone can smell them. Guess how many actually can.
- The sun sneeze — Some people sneeze when they step out into bright sunlight — it is called the photic sneeze reflex. Guess what share of the population has it.
- Earwax and deodorant — Humans have two distinct earwax types: wet and dry. A single base in the ABCC11 gene is the biggest factor — and the same gene affects armpit sweat glands.
- Milk tolerance — Infants can break down lactose — but in many adults the enzyme partly shuts off. A variant near the LCT gene often decides whether milk tolerance persists.
The rules
- Guess first — that is half the fun.
- All mysteries are associations in research data — never diagnoses or verdicts.
- Feel free to share a mystery link; it contains no information about you.
- Want to check your own variant? Your file is analyzed locally in the browser — it is not uploaded.
More: rsID lookup · What is a SNP? · English overview