Friday 12 October 2012

That's what I call "Nature Selected Method"



 I was half asleep on the d/deck bed when I saw something interesting on the telly. It was actually a snippet on NatGeo of a 10 minute documentary that I have yet manage to watch in full. I have an hour more before the heli took off and ten minutes on telly is not gonna hurt anyone….hehehe.

The experiment involves 6 Caucasian women (they look Caucasian to me) with dissimilar immune system and biological make-up, as sampling size. Each of them was instructed to sleep while putting the same t-shirts on, for a few days in a row, without them taking any bath. ( I did not pay close attention on the number of days they have to put on the same shirt – it can't be 'that' long or the BO will become unbearable). 

The said t-shirts were then deposited and sealed in air-tight bags before placing them in the freezer.

A group of male volunteers were given the t-shirts at room temperature for ranking system in no particular order with 1 being the least like and 6 being the most like.

Like their female counterparts, the male were also tested to decode their immune systems. Tested from the scent being whiffed and sniffed, it can safely be concluded  which scent each man likes and they are attracted to  women with their corresponding compatible immune system. 

I found that conclusion quite interesting with its own set of ramifications:
1) Does it mean we are ‘innately’ and biologically attracted to persons of matching immune system? So beauty is skin deep, after all?
2) How do we explain on-the-surface factors? Personality, complexion, facial features, weight, height and what-have-you do not account for anything if we really plug into our primordial attraction to partners that are crucial for continuing our lineage and if may, ‘good breeding.’
3) If the same argument follows, when a partner becomes incapacitated by a disease or accident, will the other half  strayed and ‘prey’ on more healthy and bio-compatible candidates? Or will he/she waits faithful for a speedy recovery?
4) Does this explain why in some cases when one half of a couple dies, the other slowly withers and eventually passes away too soon after losing will to live during which his/her immune system takes a toll and inevitably declines. I notice this happens to couples that are so into one another and dedicate their lives to building a happy sustainable life together.

Of course this experiment has its limits and weaknesses. I wonder how it will be like if we are to rely on our elemental urges to choose our significant others in this I so called Nature Selected Method.

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