Hate mosquitoes? Afraid of heights? Here is how to tailor your summer travels to your DNA

Credit:  Matt Masin/Orange County Register/SCNG
Credit: Matt Masin/Orange County Register/SCNG

If you seem to have more itchy red welts on your ankles than the people around you, your DNA may play a role. 23andMe researchers found 285 genetic variants associated with mosquito bite frequency, size, and itchiness. These markers and other non-genetic factors such as birth sex may explain why mosquitoes find some people so attractive.

For the mosquito magnets among us, we recommend heading north to an urban location with cooler temperatures like Seattle, Washington. Seattle’s temperate climate helps keep mosquito populations in check because there is less heat, humidity, and standing water that they need to survive and reproduce. 

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Motion sickness may happen when there’s sensory conflict, or a mismatch between what your body feels is happening and what your eyes see. And genetics factor in, too. 23andMe researchers pinpointed 413 genetic variants that influence susceptibility to motion sickness. They also saw an association between motion sickness and other conditions like migraines, morning sickness, and vertigo.

A fear of heights is very common, affecting as many as one in three people…. There’s also a genetic component at play. Scientists at 23andMe used statistical models and data from consented research participants to identify 392 genetic markers associated with a fear of heights.

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