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Review
. 2001 Mar-Apr;28(2):111-42.
doi: 10.1080/03014460151056310.

The genetics of phenylthiocarbamide perception

S W Guo  1 , D R Reed
Affiliations
Review

The genetics of phenylthiocarbamide perception

S W Guo et al. Ann Hum Biol. 2001 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

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 bitter taste perception. Although this trait is often considered a simple Mendelian trait, i.e. one gene two alleles, a recent linkage study found a major locus on chromosome 5p15 and evidence for an additional locus on chromosome 7. The development of methods to identify these genes will provide a good stepping-stone between single-gene disorders and polygenic traits.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structure of PTC and propylthiouracil.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of the ratings for a suprathreshold concentration of propylthiouracil, adjusted for sex and age effects.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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