The Use of Bloodhounds in Determining the Impact of Genetics and the Environment on the Expression of Human Odortype

Bloodhounds are used to trail fleeing felons and missing persons. In order to start a trail, the dog must be presented with a person's scent. There are many hypotheses on what a bloodhound smells while trailing. The present study attempts to identify whether human scent is genetic, and if it is influenced by one's environment. Bloodhounds trained in human scent discrimination were used to differentiate between monozygotic twins, related and nonrelated persons, living together and apart. The first test required the dogs to run blind trails after being presented with the scent of one person in the pair, while the opposite person was hidden. The second test allowed the dogs to trail one person in the pair after both people were hidden. Results appear to demonstrate that bloodhounds rely heavily on genetic cues when differentiating between people. Environmental cues do not appear to significantly aid the bloodhound in scent discrimination.