Success of the Smelliest? Do Humans Have Pheromones?

Synopsis

Pheromones are powerful signal molecules which act as sex attractants in moths, dogs and many other animals. As humans are mammals, it is possible, perhaps even probable, that we have pheromones. However, there is no solid evidence for the widely published claims, started by a corporation interested in patenting them, that the steroid molecules androstadienone and estratetraenol are human pheromones.

In this talk, Dr Wyatt will describe this 'bad science' and how we might answer the question properly. Dr Wyatt will argue that if we are to find human pheromones, we need to treat ourselves as if we were a newly discovered mammal, and use the rigorous chemical methods and bioassays already proven successful in pheromone research on other species. The first success may come from chemical communication between mothers and babies. Please click here for more information.

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Speaker

Dr Tristram Wyatt
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford 
Emeritus Fellow, Kellogg College, University of Oxford