What makes us exchange saliva, sebum, bits of food and millions of bacteria with each other? In other words, why do we kiss? This is not an innate activity. South Pacific islanders, for example, were great lovers before the Europeans arrived but never kissed. Even in Europe kissing was sometimes frowned upon. In the Middle Ages the Catholic Church decreed that kissing with the intent to fornicate was a mortal sin! But actually a kiss may be a scientific prelude to such activity. Studies have shown that women subconsciously prefer the smell of men who have different immune system proteins than their own. Mixing immune system proteins can result in healthier offspring!
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