dry earwax phenotype

Introduction

Human earwax is a mendelian trait consisting of wet & dry types. The wet earwax is brownish and sticky, whereas the dry type lacks cerumen.

Epidemiology

• frequently (80-95%) among East Asians
• uncommon (0-3%) in populations of European or African origin
• Intermediate frequencies (30-50%) of the dry type in populations
  • Southern Asia
  • Pacific Islands
  • Central Asia
  • Asia Minor
  • Native North American
  • Inuit of Asian ancestry

Genetics

• allele with Arg-184 in the ABCC11 gene is responsible for the dry earwax phenotype.
• autosomal recessive

Intermediate frequencies (30-50%) of dry type earwax are seen in populations of Southern Asia, the Pacific Islands, Central Asia & Asia Minor, as well as among the Native North American & Inuit of Asian ancestry.

More general terms

• genetic disease of the exocrine function
• otorhinolaryngologic disease; ear, nose & throat (ENT) disease

Additional terms

• ATP-binding cassette transporter sub-family C member 11; multidrug resistance-associated protein 8 (ABCC11, MRP8)
• cerumen

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/605990