Taste of Acetaminophen in Students who lack Bitter taste receptors for Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC)
Alexander Hernandez
3791590
PCB 3063 Genetics Lab
Section U09
Abstract
PTC is a lab created synthetic substance formulated very recently, while acetaminophen has a much longer history. The question is did the ability to taste each of these substances evolve differently over time. A PTC non-taster might still be able to taste acetaminophen even though they lack the PTC taste receptors. This was done by having PTC tasters and non-tasters sample acetaminophen and determine whether it was bitter or had no flavor. The sample collected had only one case of a PTC non-taster having the ability to taste acetaminophen. There were too few non-tasters to determine whether this one case was significant or not, but the T-test data signifies that there is no evidence signifying PTC non-tasters can taste acetaminophen.
Introduction …show more content…
PTC tasting is a dominant trait in a majority of the population. For example, in the Asian/European population 70 percent are tasters. This number is even greater in African and American Indian populations(Taylor). Although PTC tasters may be prevalent, the ability to not taste PTC still exists in a substantial portion of the population around the globe; Due to it being passed down through heterozygous PTC tasters as Tt with big T being the ability to taste and with little t being lack of PTC receptor. When two heterozygous dominant parents are brought together, there will be a 1 in 4 chance of producing a child who will be homozygous recessive tt, thus lacking the ability to taste PTC. This is why non-PTC tasters can still persist in society, even though it is considered a selective
Alexander Hernandez
3791590
PCB 3063 Genetics Lab
Section U09
Abstract
PTC is a lab created synthetic substance formulated very recently, while acetaminophen has a much longer history. The question is did the ability to taste each of these substances evolve differently over time. A PTC non-taster might still be able to taste acetaminophen even though they lack the PTC taste receptors. This was done by having PTC tasters and non-tasters sample acetaminophen and determine whether it was bitter or had no flavor. The sample collected had only one case of a PTC non-taster having the ability to taste acetaminophen. There were too few non-tasters to determine whether this one case was significant or not, but the T-test data signifies that there is no evidence signifying PTC non-tasters can taste acetaminophen.
Introduction …show more content…
PTC tasting is a dominant trait in a majority of the population. For example, in the Asian/European population 70 percent are tasters. This number is even greater in African and American Indian populations(Taylor). Although PTC tasters may be prevalent, the ability to not taste PTC still exists in a substantial portion of the population around the globe; Due to it being passed down through heterozygous PTC tasters as Tt with big T being the ability to taste and with little t being lack of PTC receptor. When two heterozygous dominant parents are brought together, there will be a 1 in 4 chance of producing a child who will be homozygous recessive tt, thus lacking the ability to taste PTC. This is why non-PTC tasters can still persist in society, even though it is considered a selective