Scientists Find 'Sexual Tsunami' Gene

Scientists have developed a way of turning ordinary males and females into sex gods and goddesses.

According to the Toronto Star , scientists at the University of Toronto found that by genetically altering fruit flies so they failed to produce a particular type of pheromone or odor, it turned them irresistible to their species.

They discovered that when the pheromone was removed, it created a "sexual tsunami" where the bugs became attracted to one another, regardless of sex. Even flies of a different species were attractive when the pheromone was removed, according to the research team.

The study, published in the science journal Nature , looked at how fruit flies recognize sex and species.

"When you meet somebody, you immediately begin to figure out who they are," lead researcher Prof. Joel Levine said. "The same is true for flies and other animals."

Levine added that although pheromones play a key part in human mating, our system is far more complex than that of fruit flies.

"We're hoping that as we understand more about how these things are communicated, we might get some insight in other species, too."

Scientists have yet to conclusively identify a single pheromone directly related to sexual arousal in humans , but there is an entire industry dedicated to human pheromone products .