Functional variant
The coding change alters ABCC11 transport activity in apocrine glands and strongly determines cerumen composition.
Free calculator · ABCC11
Earwax type calculator from raw DNA.
Read the strongly predictive ABCC11 rs17822931 variant associated with wet or dry earwax, with strand orientation made explicit.
Can one DNA marker predict earwax type?
Usually, yes. Earwax is an unusual human trait in which one ABCC11 coding variant has a large, near-Mendelian effect. In supported raw files, TT is associated with dry earwax; CT and CC usually indicate wet earwax. Publications often show the complementary A/G coding strand.
Run the earwax type check
Choose the unmodified raw export from your provider. Only the listed marker calls are interpreted.
Supports 23andMe, AncestryDNA, FTDNA, MyHeritage, and Living DNA autosomal exports.
Drop your raw DNA file here
or.txt, .csv, .tsv, .zip, .gz · 30 MB max
What this calculator does—and does not do.
rs17822931 changes ABCC11 protein function and has one of the clearest common genotype-to-trait relationships available in consumer raw data.
Recessive dry type
Two dry-associated alleles are normally needed for dry, flaky earwax. One wet-associated allele generally produces wet earwax.
Strand clarity
Commercial raw exports commonly display C/T where the original coding-strand literature uses G/A. The calculator uses the raw-file orientation.
Limitations
Where the model stops.
- A rare 27-base deletion and other uncommon ABCC11 variants are outside this one-SNP model.
- Age, skin conditions, infection, and ear-care products can change what earwax looks like.
- The calculator does not infer health, hygiene, or disease risk.
Primary evidence
Research behind the panel.
- Original ABCC11 discoveryYoshiura et al., Nature Genetics (2006)
- Functional and population evidenceYoshiura et al., Nature Genetics
- Dominant wet / recessive dry modelRodriguez et al., Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2013)
Frequently asked.
Why do some articles say AA means dry while my file says TT?
They are complementary DNA strands at the same variant. This calculator uses the C/T orientation found in the supported commercial raw files; TT corresponds to published AA.
Is wet earwax dominant?
For the common rs17822931 model, yes: CT and CC usually produce wet earwax, while TT is the recessive dry pattern.
Does this also predict body odour?
ABCC11 affects apocrine secretions, but this page reports only earwax type and does not turn that association into a personal hygiene claim.
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