It comes in two inherited forms, wet and dry, tastes bitter, fights infection and can be used to determine the age of a dead whale. What is it?

ArlingtonVA

Earwax! There are two distinct genetically determined types of earwax: the wet type, which is dominant, and the dry type, which is recessive.... Earwax in whales Many species of whale have an annual buildup of earwax, adding one, two, or four layers (depending upon the species) each year....the number of layers can be counted to determine the age of the whale after its death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwax Jul 08 09, 6:35 PM

gmackematix

Hearing you loud and clear, Arlington! It is indeed cerumen or earwax. So Europeans and Africans tend to have yellow wet earwax and East Asians and Native Americans have dry grey stuff. I'll take their word that its bitter. By the way, ENT specialists recommend never putting anything in your ear smaller than an elbow, which would include cotton buds I suppose. Jul 08 09, 8:01 PM