Scientists from the USA and Israel have developed a method that can accurately determine the sex of a person by analyzing the smell of their hand. This method utilizes a special protein analyzer that recognizes specific chemical compounds released from the skin. It is particularly useful in forensic medicine when other biological samples are not available.
A total of 60 volunteers, consisting of 30 men and 30 women, participated in the study. They were instructed not to wash their hands for at least an hour and then their palms were wiped with a cotton swab. These samples of hand smell were analyzed using mass spectrometry, a device that can identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the unique “chemical imprint” of an individual.
The analysis revealed that the composition of VOCs in hand smell is related to the hormonal balance, immune system, and gender of a person. Through various statistical methods, scientists achieved a 96 percent accuracy rate in determining a person’s gender by analyzing the smell of their hands. Only two out of the 60 individuals were misidentified.
Scientists believe that the ability to discern gender through smell may have an evolutionary origin and could assist in partner selection or assessing one’s health status. Furthermore, they propose that this method could be applied in legal settings to search for suspects or victims by identifying their scent on objects or clothing left behind.
However, further research is necessary to refine the sample processing and statistical techniques before implementing this method in practical scenarios. The findings of the study have been published in the journal Plos One.