Energy Drink Intake Effects on PTC Tasting
Abstract
PTC sensitivity experiments has been used throughout the years to show that Mendelian traits shows dominant inheritance. Individuals are able to either not taste PTC, slightly taste PTC or strongly taste PTC. This shows that sensitivity to PTC among tasters varies significantly. However, while genetic variation in taste controls whether a person is a non-taster or taster there are many factors that contribute to being able to taste PTC. In this experiment it is being researched whether or not energy drink intake with different levels of caffeine would increase or decrease an individual’s ability to taste PTC. Five participants from each group in the classroom were tested on their ability …show more content…
Introduction The human body has five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. However what is being focused here is the sensation of taste which can be categorized into five basic tastes, which are used every day to tell apart between different substances. These basic tastes are sourness, bitterness, umami, saltiness, and sweetness. Since there is a wide number of harmful compounds the bitter taste perception serves a major role as a defense mechanism to allow humans to avoid toxic substances and therefore ingesting potential poisons. In 1931, a UK chemist Arthur Fox was working in the lab with PTC also known as Phenylthiocarbamide when he accidently released some of the power onto the air. His colleague who was working close by started to complain that the dust taste terribly bitter. Arthur fox, however, was not able to taste anything so them being curious about how they were not able to taste the same thing, they went ahead and tasted it again. This observation fascinated fox and led to him wanting to taste this compound even further. He proceeded by having his family and friends to taste the compound and this led to him discovering that …show more content…
The ability to taste the bitterness on the compound is because the taste receptors that are found on the surface of the tongue, as mentioned previously, are coded by T2R genes. The T2R mammalian receptors are the receptors to which extracellular bitter substances bind to which trigger the activation of the G-proteins and is responsible for PTC perception. However, the inability to taste PTC is due to the inheritance of two recessive alleles, one from each parent. Some studies have also shown that there are other genes or environmental factors that influence PTC tasting. Research has shown that due to Mendelian inheritance, 30% of the human population are non-tasters while 70% percent are tasters. Ever since PTC was discovered, there has been a wide number of tests that scientist use in order to determine the variance among individuals in tasting bitter substances. The ability to taste PTC depends entirely on whether or not the gene that is responsible for tasting PTC is inherited. It is controlled by a single gene that codes for a receptor that’s on the taste buds of the tongue. In the human population three single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified in
Abstract
PTC sensitivity experiments has been used throughout the years to show that Mendelian traits shows dominant inheritance. Individuals are able to either not taste PTC, slightly taste PTC or strongly taste PTC. This shows that sensitivity to PTC among tasters varies significantly. However, while genetic variation in taste controls whether a person is a non-taster or taster there are many factors that contribute to being able to taste PTC. In this experiment it is being researched whether or not energy drink intake with different levels of caffeine would increase or decrease an individual’s ability to taste PTC. Five participants from each group in the classroom were tested on their ability …show more content…
Introduction The human body has five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. However what is being focused here is the sensation of taste which can be categorized into five basic tastes, which are used every day to tell apart between different substances. These basic tastes are sourness, bitterness, umami, saltiness, and sweetness. Since there is a wide number of harmful compounds the bitter taste perception serves a major role as a defense mechanism to allow humans to avoid toxic substances and therefore ingesting potential poisons. In 1931, a UK chemist Arthur Fox was working in the lab with PTC also known as Phenylthiocarbamide when he accidently released some of the power onto the air. His colleague who was working close by started to complain that the dust taste terribly bitter. Arthur fox, however, was not able to taste anything so them being curious about how they were not able to taste the same thing, they went ahead and tasted it again. This observation fascinated fox and led to him wanting to taste this compound even further. He proceeded by having his family and friends to taste the compound and this led to him discovering that …show more content…
The ability to taste the bitterness on the compound is because the taste receptors that are found on the surface of the tongue, as mentioned previously, are coded by T2R genes. The T2R mammalian receptors are the receptors to which extracellular bitter substances bind to which trigger the activation of the G-proteins and is responsible for PTC perception. However, the inability to taste PTC is due to the inheritance of two recessive alleles, one from each parent. Some studies have also shown that there are other genes or environmental factors that influence PTC tasting. Research has shown that due to Mendelian inheritance, 30% of the human population are non-tasters while 70% percent are tasters. Ever since PTC was discovered, there has been a wide number of tests that scientist use in order to determine the variance among individuals in tasting bitter substances. The ability to taste PTC depends entirely on whether or not the gene that is responsible for tasting PTC is inherited. It is controlled by a single gene that codes for a receptor that’s on the taste buds of the tongue. In the human population three single nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified in