ABCC11 rs17822931: wet vs dry earwax (and body odor)

Genetics explainer · Updated June 2026

The one-SNP trait

Most things genetics can tell you about — height, metabolism, disease risk — come from many genes each contributing a sliver. Earwax type is the rare exception. It's governed almost entirely by one variant in one gene, which makes it a favorite teaching example for how a single base-pair change can flip a visible trait.

ABCC11 codes for a transport protein that pumps certain molecules out of cells. The rs17822931 variant is a single change in the gene (a G becoming an A). That A version produces a protein that doesn't work the usual way — and the downstream effect shows up in two glands at once: the ones lining your ear canal, and the ones in your armpits.

What the genotypes are associated with

The dry type is recessive, meaning you need two copies of the A allele to get it:

If you have even one G, you'll have wet earwax. Only the AA genotype gives the dry, crumbly kind — and that same genotype is associated with producing less underarm odor.

The earwax–armpit connection

Why would earwax and body odor be controlled by the same gene? Because the glands responsible are cousins. Both your ear-canal glands and your underarm apocrine sweat glands rely on the ABCC11 transporter to secrete certain compounds.

Underarm odor itself isn't produced by your body directly. Your apocrine glands release relatively odorless precursor molecules, and skin bacteria then break those down into the smelly compounds we associate with sweat. The ABCC11 transporter helps move those precursors out. When the gene is in its non-working AA form, fewer precursors reach the surface — so there's less for bacteria to turn into odor.

This is why the AA (dry earwax) type is associated with a milder body-odor tendency. It's a tendency, not a guarantee: diet, hormones, hygiene, and your particular skin bacteria all still play a role.

The striking population differences

Here's where it gets genuinely fascinating. The frequency of the dry-earwax A allele varies enormously around the world:

• In many East Asian populations, the A allele is the majority — so dry earwax is the norm.
• In people of European and African descent, the A allele is uncommon — so wet earwax dominates, often in the vast majority of people.

That makes rs17822931 one of the most geographically variable common traits in the human genome. The dry-earwax variant is thought to have risen to high frequency in East Asian ancestral populations long ago, which is why the trait — and its quieter-armpit side effect — clusters so strongly by ancestry today.

It even has a cultural footprint: in Japan, where the wet type is the minority, wet earwax has historically been notable enough to be discussed in everyday life. Few single genes leave such a clear fingerprint across both biology and geography.

What it does and doesn't tell you

ABCC11 is a delightfully clean marker — knowing your genotype tells you, with unusual confidence, which earwax type to expect and which way your odor tendency leans. But it's still one variant, it describes tendencies rather than certainties, and it is not medical advice. Earwax type isn't something to treat; it's just a fun, tangible window into how your DNA shows up in everyday life.

Want to see this and other well-studied markers in your own file? Browse the Quanome gene library, try our free DNA explorer — which reads your raw data in your browser with nothing uploaded — or explore the rest of the Quanome blog.

Frequently asked questions

What does the ABCC11 gene control?

ABCC11 controls whether your earwax is wet (sticky, yellow-brown) or dry (flaky, grey). The very same variant also influences how much your underarm sweat glands secrete, which is why it's linked to body-odor tendency.

Which genotype gives dry earwax?

The dry type is recessive. Two copies of the A allele at rs17822931 (the AA genotype) give dry, flaky earwax. Having at least one G allele (AG or GG) gives the wet type. Dry earwax is associated with less underarm odor.

Why is wet earwax so much more common in some populations?

The dry-earwax A allele is very common in East Asian populations and rare in people of African and European descent. So dry earwax dominates in East Asia while wet earwax is the norm almost everywhere else. It's one of the most striking single-gene population differences known.

Does ABCC11 really predict body odor?

It predicts tendency, not destiny. The AA (dry) type produces fewer of the compounds underarm bacteria turn into odor, so people with it tend to produce less. Diet, hygiene, hormones, and bacteria all still matter. This is educational, not medical advice.