Uniqueness of Human Odor - Comparing Identical twins

Dray's TMAU Class for Beginners

Forensic Science Communications
July 2004 – Volume 6 – Number 3
Research and Technology
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Unique Odor in Identical Twins

As the debate about the genetic and environmental cause of body odor and halitosis continues, we examine what studies have been done with the use of specially trained dogs.

The issue of genetic makeup and human odor was studied using scent-discriminating canines and scent collected from three sets of twins. The test subjects included fraternal twin baby boys on the same diet, identical twin baby boys on the same diet, and identical adult twins on different diets.

1. Dogs were able to correctly identify the fraternal baby twins on identical diets
2. The identical adults twins on different diets, 89 and 83.5 percent respectively.
   
3. The dogs were able to correctly identify the identical twins on the same diet only 49 percent, which is no better than chance (Hepper 1994).

These studies show that dogs can differentiate between identical twins, especially when the twins are living apart...discrimination is more difficult when the differences were geneticIt was found in scent lineup tests when the scent of identical twins is offered to dogs in succession, the dogs could not differentiate between the identical twins. In tracking experiments in which two scents are offered simultaneously and mixed up, the dogs were able to distinguish between the two identical twins (Kalmus 1955). These studies show that dogs can differentiate between identical twins, especially when the twins are living apart. However, discrimination is more difficult when the differences were genetic. (Schoon and Haak 2002A)... For additional reading on dogs scent training and behavior, please see http://mebopawsibilitiessdprogram.blogspot.com/

"Find Another" Training Session Pawsibilities Unleashed Pet Therapy of Kentucky, Inc. 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization

Dray's training to find similar scents

Founder Liz Norris, Master Trainer AKC-CGC Instructor, and Therapy Evaluator with over 34 years of dog training experience, is the founder of Pawsibilities, with a “train the trainer” approach. Liz is a former U.S. Air Force K-9 unit trainer, including search & rescue (SAR), cadaver detection, drug detection, and K-9 obedience. She has also trained Malamutes as sled dogs, shown on the AKC circuit, been an AKC judge, and has volunteered with her own dogs in multiple SAR missions... She is an official tester for the Therapy Dog certifications and Canine Good Citizen (CGC) tests and Service Dog Public Access Test. http://puptky.giving.officelive.com/aboutus.aspx

María

María de la Torre
Founder and Executive Director

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