Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Guo SW
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3349222 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Mar-Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Annals of human biology 20010301 2
The ability to taste the bitter compound phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and related chemicals is bimodal, and all human populations tested to date contain some people who can and some people who cannot taste PTC. Why this trait has been maintained in the population is uncertain but this polymorphism may influence food selection, nutritional status or thyroid metabolism. The gene product that gives rise to this phenotype is unknown, and its characterization would provide insight into the mechanism of ...[more]