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Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
Published on: July 16, 2016
Genetics of human taste perception.
U-K Kim1, P A S Breslin, D Reed
1National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, 5 Research Court, Room 2B46, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Journal of Dental Research
|May 22, 2004
Summary
Genetic research is advancing our understanding of taste perception, particularly bitter taste via TAS2R genes and sweet/umami tastes through TAS1R receptors. Salty and sour tastes remain areas for future genetic investigation.
Area of Science:
- Genetics of Taste Perception
- Molecular Biology of Sensory Systems
- Human Taste Genetics
Background:
- The sense of taste is crucial for survival, influencing food selection and detecting toxins.
- Genetic variations significantly impact individual differences in taste abilities.
- Understanding the genetic basis of taste is key to addressing dietary behaviors and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in the genetic understanding of human taste perception.
- To highlight the molecular and genetic studies contributing to taste receptor gene discovery.
- To identify future research opportunities in the genetics of taste.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of taste receptor genes, including the TAS2R family for bitter taste.
- Application of genetic linkage and positional cloning studies, exemplified by phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) tasting.
- Molecular genetic characterization of TAS1R receptors mediating sweet and umami tastes.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in characterizing bitter taste genetics through TAS2R gene discovery and PTC tasting studies.
- Sweet and umami taste perception is increasingly understood at the molecular genetic level via TAS1R receptors.
- Genetic studies on salty and sour tastes are still in early stages, presenting future research avenues.
Conclusions:
- Genetic approaches are fundamental to unraveling the complexities of human taste perception.
- The TAS2R and TAS1R gene families are key to understanding bitter, sweet, and umami taste genetics.
- Further genetic research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of salty and sour taste perception.
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